Well, here we are, one year and nine months into becoming an Employee Owned Purpose Trust. We established the Trust and the bylaws back in January of 2023. Our Board of Directors officially held their first meeting in August of 2023. In May of this year, the Coworker owners elected their first Trust Stewardship Committee (TSC) members. In November, the TSC will nominate its first Board Member to fill the shoes of one of our board members whose term is up. The structures are all in place and the policies and procedures are being developed to solidly lay the foundation for our future. The Coworkers have appreciated a smooth ownership transition and the sense of ownership is starting to really take hold. We wanted to share what it feels like for all of us to be Coworker owners at Hummingbird.
There is something special about ownership. We develop a strong attachment and sense of responsibility to the things we own, and these things become part of our identity and an extension of ourselves.
“Employee ownership inspires me to improve my workflow and think of ways that I can influence the future of the company, because I know I am a real part of that future. It feels more important to me than ever to collaborate, listen and engage with solutions to the daily puzzles that can challenge a company of any size. Mutually beneficial relationships, service, integrity, and prosperity were values we were already living, but I feel secure that Hummingbird’s mission and vision will continue, long after all of us are gone. We’re a part of a movement for a more equitable relationship to work, for all of the Coworkers, which feels really good.” –Emma, Production Manager
“It feels great to have a direct hand in the success of the company, to have a tangible impact of our collective wins and losses. It inspires me to work harder and be more involved in Hummingbird. It’s more than just a work place, but being a part of something great!” –Emilie, Pricing Specialist
“Being an owner has truly ignited my confidence in our mission. It’s incredibly reassuring to know that Hummingbird will always be guided by our core values, not just the bottom line. I’m so excited about our future, feeling more deeply invested in every aspect of the company’s journey. The energy and enthusiasm within our teams is electric, and it’s invigorating to be part of this new frontier of company ownership! –Chelsea, Quality Manager
“I feel amazed to be engaged in our Employee Owned Purpose Trust. As part of the Hummingbird Trust Stewardship Committee, I get fired up many times each week with great satisfaction and deep connection with my co-owners. We really are all in this together. Our mission is inspiring, but now the responsibility for the future makes work even more meaningful. I wake up everyday with enthusiasm for the dreaminess and responsibility of ownership.” –Livin’, Marketing & Brand Coordinator
Feeling like an owner takes time, and requires effort and investment on the part of the business to provide education about the business, its finances and expectations.
We have identified three key things that lead Coworkers to feel like owners:
- Coworkers establish a history of contributing significant amounts of time and effort to the business
- Coworkers grow to have a good understanding and sense of identity in the business, its mission, values and vision
- And Coworkers learn and gain the knowledge needed to understand business challenges and issues, and feel like they have some control in the business
At Hummingbird, we are still at the beginning of our Coworker ownership learning journey and we all are really beginning to feel what ownership feels like.