Activate Your Rallying Cry: The Missing Link to a Thriving Business
Penny Schlyer • February 14, 2025

I've seen this time and again: Business owners passionate about delivering an exceptional client experience struggle to maintain a team that consistently meets their expectations, especially as the business grows.


Growing a business to serve clients in the way you envision is hard. No one cares as much as you do. No one but you will lie awake at night ruminating over the specifics in a contract for a consequential partnership, or will go the extra mile to make sure the details are captured about a project so that the client is not only satisfied but delighted.


The problem: Do employees even know what going the extra mile means? Some do, but many do not and don't seem to care. 

 

You fix that by transferring your passion to something employees can understand, i.e., Your Rallying Cry.


What is a Rallying Cry?


Your Rallying Cry isn’t just a mission statement—it’s the heartbeat of your business. It’s what excites you and your team to show up every day. It’s the deeper purpose behind why your company exists and the impact you want to create.


Think about the great businesses or movements that have inspired you. Nike’s Just Do It campaign wasn’t just a slogan but a call to action that tapped into the spirit of the individual and ultimately fueled the brand. This campaign appealed not only to the market but also to the culture within Nike.


Side note: Contrast "Just Do It" which had mass appeal internally and externally with Nike's latest campaign: "You Can't Win. So, Win." Will this be as powerful? Go to their website and tell me what you think. 🤔


Another example of a powerful rallying cry that appealed to the market and set the stage for the company culture is Apple’s Think Different. This wasn’t just marketing; it was a cultural revolution inside Apple that shifted the way they designed and delivered products to the market. Apple became known for tech innovation which created a magnet for the best and brightest creators scrambling to be a part of it. Back in the day, we all anxiously awaited the next big thing coming out of Apple because it was so revolutionary and different. 

 

An example closer to home: With a huge grin on her face today, one of my clients excitedly said, we have people knocking on our doors asking to work for us. This kind of excitement, this untapped energy comes from the owners and the thoughtful way they engage their team. They are highly aware of the tone they set within the company, and are making great strides putting the structure in place so they can scale as they add new locations.

 

As their coach, it's incredibly gratifying to be a part of this journey. 🤗

 

What a Rallying Cry Can Do For Your Business


With a Rallying Cry:

  • Employees feel a sense of purpose and take ownership of their roles.
  • They love to come to work, and trust and productivity are high.
  • The business culture fuels momentum, which is a magnet to attract the right people.
  • Customers become loyal advocates, and word of mouth fuels your business because customers feel the difference.
  • The business thrives even when you're away from daily operations.


Without a Rallying Cry:

  • Employees see their jobs as just a paycheck, not a mission.
  • They punch in. They punch out. More money somewhere else? They're gone.
  • Worse yet, the customer experience becomes inconsistent and uninspired, especially when you're not there.
  • You, the business owner, remain the glue holding everything together, rescuing the customer from a poor experience.
  • Your growth stalls because you have no time to be strategic, and when you are, there’s no momentum beyond your effort.


Activating Your Rallying Cry


Your Rallying Cry is already there! It’s what got you started in the first place. The key is making it clear, energizing your team with it, and embedding it into every aspect of your business. I use a formula with my clients that seems simple yet reveals the very spirit of their business. 


  1. Define Your Why – Why did you start this business? What impact do you want to have on your customers, industry, or community? Why is it so important to you? 
  2. Identify What Makes Your Product/Service Unique - What is your special sauce? What do you do differently than anyone else? How does that come through in your business?
  3. Clarify Your Unique Customer Experience – What do you want customers to feel every time they interact with your business? What makes your experience different? What values guide your decisions?
  4. Align Your Team – What is your Ideal Employee Profile? Where do you find them? Does your hiring, training, and culture reinforce your Rallying Cry? 
  5. Embed It in Your Operations – Your Rallying Cry isn’t just words; it should be reflected in your processes, customer interactions, and decision-making.
  6. Lead by Doing, Lead by Showing – Do your people know what good looks like? What are the little things you do that no one else does to satisfy your clients? If you want your team to embody the Rallying Cry, you must live it daily. You must find ways to empower your people.


Many business owners spend their time fixing mistakes and making sure customers get the right experience because their team isn’t fully aligned. But when your Rallying Cry is activated, your employees become brand ambassadors who instinctively know how to deliver the experience you envision.

 

Your business doesn’t have to depend on you being in the room every day. The right people, with the right purpose, create momentum that fuels sustainable growth.

Are you ready to stop rescuing and start trusting? It’s time to activate your Rallying Cry.

 

Let’s talk about how to make it happen for your business with our six-week intensive program to Activate Your Rallying Cry.  Schedule a time to chat!


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