Find Your Why
March 6, 2020
At a recent recruitment event in Korea, a woman I was talking to wanted (or needed) the job so badly, she was trembling. I got her a glass of water, hoping it might calm her. She quickly said she felt better – not because of the water, but because I had given it to her. That simple act touched her and showed that I cared about her as a person.
Commitment to a Greater Good
When my dad, Jerry King, founded King Aerospace back in 1992, he focused on making a positive difference while earning a fair profit. Our mission and vision included helping both those we serve and those we employ. Almost three decades later, that has not changed. Our people and their passion set us apart from the competition. We just happen to work on airplanes.
At King Aerospace, we’ve always dedicated considerable effort to helping our team members find their purpose, or as we call it, their why. Developing a mission of service greater than self is not an easy thing. It takes ongoing focus and commitment. It is definitely not a one-and-done initiative. It starts with your team and your culture, and it leads to demonstrable differences.
For example, as a defense contractor we often take on troubled programs and get them on track. That happened not long ago at our facility in El Paso. After assuming a contract that had been plagued by delays, we came in, trained the team in our way of doing things, and soon our government partners were commenting about how quickly and well the planes were getting fixed.
Get to the Core
Maybe you’re thinking it’s time to rethink your company’s purpose. I have some suggestions for you.
Your why should answer the true, foundational reason for your organization’s existence. Team members must know what that is and how they fit in. We establish King Kulture™ committees at each of our locations. They are made up of volunteers who serve three-year terms and meet monthly. Representatives from each committee serve on a broader, international committee that meets quarterly. Having committees driven by front-line team members rather than management develops authenticity and buy in. Team members understand our vision and work diligently to protect it.
Walk Your Talk
Your why should shape the spirit of your company. It should be a key part of leadership’s expectations and a component of annual team member performance reviews. (Measure what matters, and your culture certainly does.) Management should underscore the importance of purpose by leading through example. It can’t be a “do as I say, not as I do” situation.
This might sound hard. But have you ever achieved anything great without putting in the work? For us, this is no quick fix. It boils down to servant leadership. To thinking of others’ needs. To looking at the work environment we create. Is it encouraging, friendly and approachable? Do we say thank you and call out others’ positive actions? For a company that prioritizes its service to God, Country and Family, it won’t surprise you to learn that our why is all about doing everything with love.
Caring Leads to Winning
You can make a business case for purpose. The Harvard Business Review launched a global study of successful companies and the strategies that drove them. The findings surprised them. Companies realizing the highest growth were those that moved purpose from a lip-service add-on to a core focus that guided their efforts.
The Harvard Business Review found that purpose-driven companies do better financially, enjoy more customer loyalty and rock at innovation. It summed up the findings by saying, “It seems easier to win the game when you care about the game.” At King Aerospace, we have certainly found this to be true.
A business that began in my parents’ humble living room now operates facilities in Dallas, TX; El Paso, TX; Albuquerque, NM; Camp Humphreys, Korea; Ardmore, OK; and 24/7 logistics outposts around the world. We couldn’t do it without knowing our why – and we wouldn’t want to.
