A
Principle-Based Company
The Bell Group is a principle-based
company. This means we choose to conduct ourselves according to a set
of principles, rather than by a rule book or a policy manual. Because
we believe that all individuals are capable and want to work according
to internalized standards, we have spent a lot of time developing these
principles.
Here are the principles that we live by at The Bell Group:
- Do what you agree to do.
- Do not encroach on other people or their property.
- Create an environment of trust.
- Be open and honest.
- Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
- Express and value all feelings, concerns and ideas equally.
- Exchange your best effort for the best effort of others.
- Develop long-term relationships of mutual benefit (WIN/WIN).
- Have fun!
- Passionately develop and pursue shared and individual purposes and goals.
- Strive to maintain a positive attitude at all times.
- Maintain your power to succeed by choosing not to believe you are a victim.
- Take responsibility for your part in each life experience, and learn from it.
- Be successful by helping others to be successful, and accepting that help for yourself.
- Lead by influence (using reason, benefits and inspiration) rather than by coercion (using force, fear and innuendo).
Our principles form the basis for decision-making
throughout our organization. As we are confronted with decisions, whether
they be how to relate to one another, how to resolve a customer problem,
or how to pursue continuous improvement, we look to our principles and
invariably find our answers there.
Participative
Management
At The Bell Group, associates know that part of their job is to complete
and continuously improve the tasks for which they are responsible. Another
part of their job is to participate in the management of the company.
Every associate is a member of a team, and teams are comprised of associates from similar functional areas, or from cross-functional areas. Teams are responsible for identifying goals that are consistent with the strategic intent of the company, and then identifying how to accomplish them.
At The Bell Group, there are no supervisors, leads, managers, etc. But just because we don’t have “management” people doesn’t mean the business doesn’t get managed! Part of coming to work at The Bell Group is learning new skills as a participative manager.
Our associates receive training and support in understanding the finances of the company; participate in developing the strategy and the measurements of strategic success; and learn how to do the hiring, goal-setting, counseling and other responsibilities that managers traditionally handle. All of these responsibilities are carried out by teams—with the support of a Coach—to learn, develop and refine those management skills.
All of our company decisions are developed by associates
who know the work and listen to what our customers need. As a result,
the high levels of participation throughout the organization enhance all
problem-solving, quality improvements and change.
Partnership
Approach
It’s one thing to ask everyone to "feel" like or "work”
like a partner, but at The Bell Group, "partnership" means a
lot more than just saying "we're all partners here."
The essence of partnership is that partners share in the risk, and then share in the reward. Therefore, at The Bell Group, we put our money where our mouth is.
The Bell Group gives 30% of net pre-tax profits back to all associates. 50% of that goes into our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and half is distributed in the form of cash bonuses that are paid out on a yearly basis.
Though we are a privately held organization, we embrace open-book management whole-heartedly, and our associates have access to the information they need to evaluate our progress, analyze risks and opportunities, and participate in our success.
Our team-based, participative management approach
ensures that all associates' ideas, concerns and opinions are shared,
heard, valued and acted upon.