Letter on the Third — April 2023

Dear Datamax Family,

As we take the leap into the second quarter of 2023, we’re reminded that our position should be both positive and united with those around us.

At each of our annual meetings recently, I made it a point to stress the importance of our Mutual Commitment documents between managers and employees. These agreements are a real-life example of both parties remaining on the same page - being united - in our efforts as a department and as a company. As I said in the meeting, if your manager hasn’t addressed it, you have every right to bring it up.

If it’s important to you, it should be important to your manager.

Our mutual commitments, and what they foster, bring to mind Datamax Principle #5: “Present a positive, united position to all internal and external customers.” As we seek to win “Best Places to Work in Arkansas” for a seventh straight year, and “Best Companies to Work for in Texas” for a second, I believe this Principle speaks strongly to our cultural makeup. It’s like Abraham Lincoln once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The same should be said for our Datamax family. So what does Principle #5 really mean to me?

It means being positive.

No matter how a person’s day is going (or not going), a positive approach lights up the work atmosphere. Especially for those of us in leadership positions… when we have a negative demeanor, someone sure feels guilty about coming in to ask us a question. Conversely, when we’re enthusiastic and encouraging, that energy spreads.

It means operating “people to people.”

As with any family, we operate best people to people, and whenever possible, in person together. It’s part of our culture. A great example of this is the Lacey Nietert feature in this month’s Rave Review. Even though they’re 150+ miles apart, Lacey and manager Kristen Finkbeiner meet at least once a month in person in Fort Smith to synchronize efforts. The more our VPs and managers travel back and forth from Dallas to East Texas, or Little Rock to Texarkana, etc., meeting with employees face to face, I think that just reinforces the fact that we care and we’re committed.

It means better understanding your coworkers’ roles.

The best way I know how to be united in our efforts (holding formation even when turbulence hits) is by truly understanding what other people are doing around us. No position is easy here. No position is exactly alike. We work best, more united, when we better understand roles beyond our own.

In closing, I’m excited to share that we’ll be hosting our 40th Anniversary Open House Celebration in Little Rock on May 11. It’ll be a great time to reflect, reconnect, and reinforce our presence here in our Arkansas communities. Let me say this: I truly believe we wouldn’t be celebrating 40 years without a true commitment to Datamax Little Blue Book Principle #5.

The Best is Yet to Be.