ENERGY BUS CASE STUDY
BONA
How one company utilized The Energy Bus to create a Positive Culture and Grow their Business
About Bona
Since 1919, Bona has provided professionals with premium quality finishing systems and cleaning products developed to maintain the natural beauty of wood floors. With global headquarters in Malmö, Sweden and subsidiaries and distributors in over 50 countries, Bona leads the industry worldwide with innovative, environmentally responsible solutions to a formerly hazardous and toxic process. The pioneer of waterborne finishes and dust containment in the industry, Bona provides the cleanest, most convenient and healthiest hardwood floor finishing process available. As a privately owned, mid-sized company with solid revenues and growth, Bona prides itself on quality products, produced from an outstanding research and development team. In addition, Bona’s recent expansion into mass retail with floor care products has created tremendous opportunities into new, profitable territories. Approximately 120 employees are located in the US and about 450 worldwide. www.Bona.com
Case Study - Written By Bona's leadership team.
2008 started out on a positive note, regardless of the economic times, for Bona US. At the yearly sales meeting in Aurora, Colorado, Bona’s focus was on planning and advancing, while concentrating on their core values for health, the environment, and exceptional customer service. A few weeks prior, Barry Sopinsky, Bona’s Director of Sales, had just finished his copy of Jon Gordon’s international bestseller, The Energy Bus. He was truly inspired, to say the least, and decided to propose having Gordon come speak to the entire Bona Team. And so it came, that the first invitation to ride the bus was extended by Sopinsky… and accepted by the Bona Executive Team. Gordon spoke to the Bona sales team that year, and became quite familiar with the Bona community. During his presentation, he focused on his 10 rules for positive energy and explained the road map to navigate the negativity and pitfalls associated with challenges and adversity in business and life. Gordon’s presence was uplifting and extremely motivational through his easily relatable stories and experiences. He gave everyone a new perspective on positive thinking personally and professionally.
In fact, the impact Gordon had on individuals and the executive team at Bona was infectious. Managing director, John Rauvola, decided to stay on board Gordon’s Energy Bus by giving each employee a copy of The Energy Bus and holding company success meetings every month. With the help of Bona’s marketing and graphic design team, a company vision for 2010 was created that included a logo and company timeline to track successes along the journey to reaching Bona’s goals. By capturing sales objectives by month on the “Sales Expressway”, “Operating Income Ave.” and “Gross Margin Blvd.”, inspiration ensued with each employee at work by visibly watching the company meet their goals throughout the year. Each success meeting also presents an opportunity for all employees from each department to share recent successes they have had over the last month.
After the first company success meeting, each employee was given a Bona Bus Ticket and color-coded name tag to embark on a journey of team building, fun, prizes, and excitement. After being shuttled to Amazing Jakes, an indoor fun factory full of rides, attractions, and food, Bona employees were split into teams and challenged to the ultimate scavenger hunt. The day gave employees the chance to get to know each other on a more personal level by working as a team and challenging themselves to interactive tasks, such as: go-karts, laser tag, and a climbing wall. A definite positive energy presided over the day and helped move the Bona Bus further in the right direction.
Bona also invited Gordon to speak to their customers at their Distributor Executive Conference and again at the annual sales meeting in February. It is evident that his words and contagious inspiration have created a new and unique culture at Bona. It shows in the attitudes of the employees and in the success of the company through dedication and lots of hard work. Constantly bombarded with negative news and a sinking economy, Bona had a choice between two roads and they chose to keep driving their bus through it all with a clear, positive vision ahead.
Rauvola states, “Exercising Jon Gordon’s positive message in our personal and professional lives is extremely important to maintain a successful company. Positive energy passed between employees encourages stronger work ethic and an end result of increased productivity. We hope everyone stays on board the Bona Energy Bus because we are too blessed to be stressed.”
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