I write this from a particular Procter & Gamble perspective but with the thought that it is potentially relevant to other organizations, whether for-profit or non-profit.
In my book, "What Really Matters", I draw a distinction among an "Organization" (which might be any company or non-profit), an "Institution" (which I define as an organization which has achieved a sustained existence and defined, generally positive reputation, e.g. the Mayo Clinic, the Smithsonian, Procter & Gamble, Walt Disney ) and a "Community", which I define as an institution whose members have developed over time both shared and intimate contact with one another and a sense of shared purpose and values which leads to a high degree of mutual trust, admiration, respect and affection.
For me and many others, P&G is not only an institution but a community.
The benefits of being a community are many: greater loyalty, better retention, more open and honest communications, greater collegiality. Being a community does not suggest a lack of diversity. To the contrary, one of the benefits--and joys--of being a community comes in the full and authentic appreciation of diversity.
Which brings me to a recent reunion of P&G retirees in London England. Upwards of 60 P&G retirees and their spouses assembled for two days of renewed friendship. Most of us had been retired for 15-25 years. We came from around the world including Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany, Austria, France and Belgium.
We were treated to special events: a boat trip on the Thames; a tour of the Tower of London; a walk in London's East End; all wrapped up with a gala dinner at the Caledonian Club, described as a "little piece of Scotland in the heart of Belgravia".
However, what made these two days special, what explains why we made the trip, why we relished being there was the opportunity to renew friendships formed over many years, in fact over decades.
From start to finish the conversation was non-stop, animated, filled with broad smiles, stories of the past and stories of what everyone was doing now, and expressed satisfaction and pride that the company we still felt intimately part of despite our retirement more than a decade ago of was doing well.
How many retirees from an organization would travel so far and with such joy for a reunion, we asked ourselves. Surely very few.
We likened it to a "family" reunion. That's what it felt like.
I felt it would be worth trying to answer the questions: "what exactly accounts for this feeling? What enabled it to develop?"
Of course I can only speak with confidence for myself; but I believe I speak for many others.
1. We worked together and came to know one another over a long period of time in many different circumstances: many filled with challenge; many marked by great opportunity. For example, I worked with my good friend Wolfgang Berndt and came to know his wife, Traudl, first in Italy 45 years ago. Later, we worked together in the United States, Germany, the U.K., Belgium, Russia, Canada and Latin America. Similar stories could be told by almost everyone at our Reunion.
Clearly one of the benefits of most executives at P&G coming early in their career and staying for its entirety, in many assignments, is to provide the opportunity for this type of deep association.
2. The employees and their spouses had been together on many, many occasions. They had come to know one another. Strong personal relationships had formed. Though year end gatherings. By spouses accompanying their partners on many trips. Hence, it was no surprise that our reunion didn't simply see retired employees taking to fellow retirees. No, we saw spouses talking to spouses; couples deeply engaged talking to other couples.
This was a family affair.
3. We were united by a common set of personal values which we all believed had been nurtured by our time at P&G and which despite business challenges P&G has faced (as any company will over time) we believed were still alive and well. And we took great satisfaction and pride from that. A video message from P&G's current CEOl, David Taylor, underscored his commitment to these values--of excellence, of winning, of mutual respect and responsible contribution to the community.
In my brief remarks at dinner, I offered the point of view that in an era of eroding confidence in so many of our institutions, it is more important than ever that a business represent and provide a haven of good values with which people of principle want to be associated. Doing so will have multiple benefits: attracting and retaining strong women and men of high capability and values; and earning the respect of consumers and customers and government authorities.
It will do another thing which this P&G reunion in London amply affirmed.
It will create a lasting source of satisfaction and joy for men and women long retired from active service. That's a wonderful and consequential thing. In this respect it perhaps can be likened to a college reunion. And while hard to quantitatively measure there are surely benefits for the organization whether that be loyalty to an organization's services or products or positive word-of-mouth in all things that matter.
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