When it comes to people management, we value autonomy, flexibility, efficiency, transparency, diversity and well-being.
Flexibility and Autonomy
Due to the nature of our work, we have been operating in a decentralized and remote team set up since our inception. This dynamic environment allows us to be quick and agile. Just like the entrepreneurs that we work with constantly adapt to challenges and external situational changes to keep going. This is why our culture is rooted in taking initiative. We give our people the trust and resources they need for their mandate and the encouragement and freedom to tackle the challenges they identify.
Our collaboration and communication are founded on our own ten commandments. They contain ten affirmations that the team put together collectively. It was then signed in an online social gathering that was attended by over 50 enpactors across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
In a nutshell, the ten commandments are our interpretation of how we think and articulate enpact’s culture. They contain the distinctive set of values that we translate into practices and behaviors across the whole organization.
They guide us to reach one of the most rewarding aspects of our work: The ability to connect with people across different backgrounds, and to figure out how we can mix together all types of working styles, cultures, and experiences in a way that allows every person to bring out their best – and feel right at home.
Transparency and open communication
Making sure that all the different parts work together in a productive way requires a set of processes and structures. They need to be helpful and applicable, rather than stifling and complicated. Therefore, we develop them together and are revisiting them on a regular basis – when we realize there are shortcomings or areas for improvement.
This requires honesty and transparency from every one of us. Radical candor is not easy. But, we extend an open invitation to everyone to always speak up when something isn’t working the way that it should be. Our work is rooted in transparent communication and we consider it our responsibility to create a space for it. Only when everyone feels comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations, we are able to improve.
And this doesn’t only apply to processes, but to every aspect of the work that we do.
Diversity and inclusion
At enpact we strongly believe that the diversity of backgrounds, cultures, languages, value systems, religions, sexual orientations of our team to be an absolute asset. The wide range of perspectives continuously challenges the way we think and act.
This requires us to keep changing. Because real change doesn’t come from sticking with what you’re used to, whatever that may be. It comes from going out, questioning, exchanging, learning and wanting to know and understand better. Only then can you challenge systemic structures. And actively offer opportunities wherever they have been systemically lacking.
We apply this philosophy in both selecting our team members and designing our projects. For our projects to have the intended impact, they are implemented and/or actively developed by our colleagues on the ground.
Well-being
While we love what we do – our project-based work also gets very intense at peak times. Therefore, the mental, physical and emotional well-being of our enpactors is a priority and non-negotiable We offer everyone the flexibility to design when and where you work. We aim to apply a performance review that rewards the effort made, rather than the bottom line achieved. We want to hear about concerns and provide support whenever needed.
This also applies to our community. The statistics about how detrimental starting and running a business is to mental and physical health, are alarming. The working culture that has surrounded entrepreneurship over the past decade needs to be revisited. We want to contribute to changing that. As part of our programs, we aim to instill in our community of entrepreneurs a culture of putting their well-being and the well-being of their team as a priority on their journey towards growth and success.
