Employee First or Customer First?
#20 / 101
The stock market took a hit today! Some took profits while others faced losses. It’s exhausting! The surge in mutual fund investments is notable, and we might soon have more stock broking apps than NIFTY 50 stocks! But let’s set that aside for now.
Who is more important to you: your employees or your customers? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
When I was setting up ActOnMagic, we shared lunches, cracked jokes, and treated each other like family. In a small startup, it’s easy to care for each team member. Without employees, we can’t create products for customers. But without customers, we can’t pay our employees. Then there are the investors and shareholders who fund the startup from the beginning.
One of my mentors advised me that taking care of shareholders is crucial. When we successfully exited and I repaid our investors with interest, it was one of my proudest moments. I felt I had added value for them, and it was a huge relief as a first-time founder.
As startups grow into larger organizations, unfortunately, the priority for employee care often diminishes. When a customer emails, organizations rush to respond or at least send an acknowledgment with a commitment to resolve the issue. However, I’ve heard that some companies don’t extend the same courtesy to employee emails.
What has your experience been like?
