For the past 10 years, Josh Dunn has built an organization and a brand that has become the model of two communities. Premier Media Group is the publisher of 425 Magazine and South Sound Magazine. These two publications set the standard for excellence in the “Lifestyle Living” category for the markets they serve, and their readership consistently validates this position.
However, to build a great brand externally, you also have to build a great brand internally. You must have a team of employees whose desire every day is to perform at the level of excellence that the brand reflects. This is something that isn’t expressed, but is a reflection of an organization’s leadership.
We’ve all seen plenty of examples of organizations where the employees simply “mail-it-in” every day. These are the organizations who have difficulty growing because mediocre is the standard they live up to.
Recently, I witnessed one of the biggest reasons why Premier Media Group has won a “Best Places to Work” award for several years now in the South Puget Sound. I was asked to join the team at a Tacoma Rainiers baseball game where I witnessed leadership at its finest – unscripted and authentic.
Josh Dunn met up with my wife and me in the Summit Club where we grabbed a drink and joined his family for the beginning of the game, while the rest of the team was seated down on the 100 level with a group of seats behind home plate. At the end of the 1st inning, Josh asked us to join him and the rest of the family with the team down below. Throughout the game, I watched Josh move around the seats and spend time with every team member and their family, one-on-one and in groups. He spent time getting to know them better and talking about life – not business, but life.
The staff at PMG LOVE working for Josh Dunn. They produce a world-class product and they do it because he makes it easy for them to love what they do and where they do it. He cares about them and, as a result, they care about their output.
What are you doing to make your workplace a “Great Place to Work”? Do your people LOVE working for you? Or do they show up hoping they aren’t going to get punished for a mistake during their 8 hours of endurance?
By Todd Ostrander, OneAccord Principal