Top Tools of 2021: Atrómitos

In our Top Tools series, we have covered a number of important skills that we, at Atrómitos, believe will help you and your company be successful. Now, in our last installment of the series, we want to talk not about a specific tool, but a way in which we hope you use the tools.

The word, “atrómitos” comes from the Greek word, “Ατρόμητος” meaning fearless. For our team, we embody our fearlessness in our commitment to helping you, our partners and clients, do your big things. We will not back down from a challenge simply because of its complexity, and we will ensure you have whatever it is you need to achieve the goals you have set out to accomplish.

As we close out our Top Tools series, we ask you this: How do you embody fearlessness in what you do? Have you considered how your fearlessness benefits those who help your company thrive? If not, allow us to propose a couple of starting points: Be authentic for yourself, be transparent for your team, and stand for something for your consumers. And of course, do all of that fearlessly.

FIRST, BE AUTHENTIC FOR YOURSELF.

Showing up as a professional on a daily basis can be difficult. There are parts of our jobs we feel we are not good at, parts we have no control over, and parts we just simply do not want to do. Even when considering the responsibilities that we enjoy doing and that we know ourselves to be highly proficient at, we still oftentimes have to perform those at the request or under the guidance of others. With all of these factors at play, it can be a challenge to keep a consistent presence at the office (or on Zoom for those of you who are virtually based).

If we show up at work with the sole intent of doing our job to the satisfaction of every individual with a stake in our performance, not only will we be exhausted by the end of the day, but we’ll also probably not do very well in our pursuit. Part of the reason for this is that putting the satisfaction of others first may prohibit our ability to perform our jobs in the way that feels most authentic to ourselves. At Atrómitos, being authentic to who you are is about your values, and making sure that those values inform what you do, how you do it, and who you work with. We have talked about ensuring the Vision and Mission of your company informing your business plan: how your company operates should be predicated on what you believe a future state should be and how you want to accomplish that. We believe the same should hold true for how you show up to work: the values you hold as an individual should be the basis for the work you do.

But aligning your personal and professional values may be easier said than done. For myriad reasons we may be unable to show up to work as our authentic selves: the work environment may be hostile, the job may be our only option, or the company may be undergoing a transition. Regardless, performing at work (or anywhere, really) as less than your authentic self can diminish your satisfaction and productivity. And while we do not necessarily recommend throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of your authenticity, we do believe it imperative to take the necessary time to understand how you want to be at work and how you can get there.

BE TRANSPARENT FOR YOUR TEAM.

The team you work with to accomplish your job is far-reaching; it includes your employees, employers, governing bodies, investors, consumers, and vendors. Earlier in this series, we talked about how collaboration is not just a way to get business done, but is, instead, the essence of your business. You cannot succeed without the collaboration of your team, regardless of how you define it.

Since this team is integral to how you do business, it is imperative that they have a clear line of sight into the “how” and “why” of your company. As a leader, you must be able to succinctly describe your business’ direction and game plan. As an employee, you will be limited in your ability to move the company forward without knowing the potential pitfalls ahead and the resources at your disposal to address them. Board Members and Investors require succinct information on an organization’s capacity in order to determine what risks are worth taking. And your consumers (never forget your consumers) are increasingly demanding that businesses openly share why they operate the way they do or what do they stand for (more on this below).

Our point is this: In order to make the collaborations that you need successful, they each require their own level and degree of transparency. We understand that there are limits to exactly how transparent a company should be; proprietary information oftentimes needs to be protected and the minute details of how your leaders come to a decision need not always be shared, for example. It is those caveats—the “oftentimes” and the “always”—that require your attention in deciding to be fearlessly transparent. There is definitely a strategy to transparency, and we recommend your company invest the time and resources to determine how you’re going to use it.

STAND FOR SOMETHING FOR YOUR CONSUMERS.

We said it earlier in this article, and in a previous article, and we’ll say it again: Consumers want to know what you stand for. Furthermore, we would wager, so do your employees (and vendors, and investors). But for now, we want to focus on your consumers: the individuals who, without your company, would have no reason to exist. Despite the pressures and influence of your governing bodies or biggest donors or largest shareholders, it is the satisfaction of your consumers that make or break the survival of your business. And consumers are increasingly looking to patronize and receive services from companies that align with their personal values.

So what does this mean since you understandably cannot align with every consumer’s values. For our team at Atrómitos, standing for something means two things: first, deciding what it is our team believes in, fights for, and will not compromise on; and second, strategically building our external team (partners, vendors, advisors, etc.) with those who most closely align with where we are. Yes, it sometimes results in not taking a job or needing to switch platforms. But in doing so, we are able to present a uniform identity to our consumers, who can then decide for themselves whether our values align closely enough with their own. (And, for a full circle conversation, having a team-wide understanding of what we stand for allows each of us to individually show up authentically to get the work done).

Standing for something, in my personal opinion, requires the highest level of fearlessness of the three in this article. Opinions are rampant nowadays, with everyone being an internet-certified expert in all the things. Facts are minimized and distorted; opinions are inflated and given increased importance. As a business, it is not the easiest decision to come out front of an issue and stake a claim to your opinion. You will lose consumers; I will not sugarcoat that. However, you will also gain consumers who remain more loyal to your brand because of the fearless approach you have taken to making a stand.  

BEING FEARLESS REQUIRES SUPPORT…

…and that’s OK. If there is one thing I hope you have taken away from this Top Tools series, it is that the skills and techniques we believe will help you be successful are not meant to be used by yourself in isolation. Leading in your business is not about having all the answers nor about dictating your organization’s every move. Instead, it is about recognizing the value others bring to the table and knowing how to best utilize those skills and ideas to improve outcomes, increase sales, and optimize efficiencies.

Being authentic, having transparency, and standing for something are no different. The supports you rely on to build honesty, community, and leadership within your company are the same ones you can rely on for fearlessly moving into the future. But don’t worry: we are here to help if you need support.