Very few people would argue that any new building, especially a skyscraper or super bridge or even your family’s home, doesn’t require a strong foundation.
The same is true for high growth companies with aspirational goals and nearly unlimited potential. For many companies that foundation might be innovative technology, inclusive culture, inspirational leadership, focus on continuous improvement and good old fashioned hard work. For many organizations a focused team with a diverse set of talents coming together at the right time can be a critical pillar of success.
For many companies and organizations there is an attempt to communicate and build a strong foundation by encapsulating what they are about in a Vision or Mission statement.
There are some great Vision and Mission statements out there. Some examples that resonate with me are:
Disney: To entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the iconic brands, creative minds and innovative technologies that make ours the world’s premier entertainment company.
Patagonia: Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.
Tesla: To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
TED: Spread ideas.
LinkedIn: To connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.
Intuit: To improve its customers’ financial lives so profoundly, they couldn’t imagine going back to the old way.
Our ZS2 Mission Statement is something near and dear to our hearts as well:
To accelerate the development and adoption of construction technologies which are stronger, safer and healthier for people and the planet.
And our Vision is clear:
To build a better planet
I would argue however that our vision and our mission statements are just small examples of the foundation required for reaching our sky high potential. A strong foundation for growth and success is only possible with a strong team of committed and talented people with a shared purpose and set of values. When ZS2 was born we set out to succinctly capture our shared values. These values capture our shared purpose and for the team represent our true foundation.
Our values
Customer Commitment
We develop relationships that make a positive difference in our customers lives.
Quality
We provide outstanding building technologies and unsurpassed service, that together, deliver premium value to our customers.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of integrity in all our actions and do business with those that demand the same.
Innovation
We constantly strive for improvement in everything we do, thinking differently and challenging the status quo.
Teamwork
We work together, across boundaries, to meet the needs of our customers to help the company and our stakeholders succeed.
Respect for people
We value our people, encourage their development and reward their performance.
Personal accountability
We are personally accountable for delivering on our commitments.
Safety
We are passionate about safety. We develop safer building technologies and we demonstrate safety leadership everywhere we work.
Good citizenship
We are good citizens in the communities in which we live and work.
A dedicated, compassionate, hard working team with a shared set of fundamental values is the foundation which will allow us to reach for the sky and anchor us in good times and bad.
That’s the foundation of ZS2.
Scott Jenkins is the CEO and Co-Founder of ZS2 Technologies and has been an executive, entrepreneur, investor and supporter of innovative technology companies in the construction, manufacturing, engineering and software industries for over 20 years.