Most companies have a flagpole.

But surprisingly few have stopped to consider why it is there.

A flag is more than a piece of fabric on a pole.

It can be one of the most visible physical expressions of a company’s identity.

Employees see it as they arrive at work. Customers and business partners see it when they visit. And it sends a signal to everyone who passes by.

So perhaps the question is not:

“Do we have a flagpole?”

But rather:

“What story does our flag tell?”

Across organisations, considerable attention is devoted to workplace culture, employer branding, corporate identity and reputation. Great Place To Work describes trust and pride, together with positive relationships among colleagues, as defining qualities of a great workplace. That prompted us to ask a simple question:

Does the flag play a greater role than we tend to think?

 

The corporate flag tells people who we are

For many companies, the corporate flag is a natural part of their visual identity.

It shows who the company is. It creates recognition. And it can express pride in the organisation, its people and the work they do every day.

Just as companies invest in signage, buildings, vehicles and websites, a corporate flag can contribute to a professional first impression.

 

The national flag tells people what we are part of

There are also days when the company’s own identity takes a step back.

Days when an organisation chooses to mark something larger than itself.

Across the Nordic countries, national flags have a strong and visible place in public life. They are used to mark official flag days, national celebrations, commemorations and other occasions of shared significance.

Companies can also choose to use the national flag to mark work anniversaries, milestone birthdays, retirements and important achievements, or to welcome special guests.

The corporate flag and the national flag therefore serve different purposes. One expresses who the organisation is. The other can express what the organisation is part of.

 

Why use the national flag actively?

Many companies invest significant resources in culture:

·       Values

·       Employee wellbeing

·       Employer branding

·       Community and belonging

Great Place To Work’s global model places trust and pride, together with positive relationships among colleagues, at the heart of a strong workplace culture - qualities that have to be experienced in everyday working life.

Gallup’s research on employee recognition likewise points to the importance of people feeling valued and recognised for their contribution.

Flying a flag is, of course, only one possible way to make recognition visible.

But it is visible.

Visible to the employee being celebrated, and to colleagues, customers and business partners who share the moment.

·       An employee anniversary is marked.

·       A milestone birthday is celebrated.

·       A new achievement is recognised.

·       Guests are welcomed.

These are small actions, but they can help make visible what an organisation chooses to value and celebrate.

 

The flag as part of the company’s public face

Where a flagpole forms part of the approach to a company or institution, the flag can be one of the first visible elements encountered by employees, visitors and partners.

A well-presented corporate flag reinforces identity.

A national flag on an official flag day can express respect for tradition, community and belonging.

Both contribute to the way an organisation presents itself.

Both tell a story.

And that is why this is not a question of choosing between the corporate flag and the national flag.

They each have a role to play.

 

What does an empty flagpole say?

Perhaps the more interesting question is not why organisations fly flags.

But why they do not.

What does it communicate when a flagpole stands empty for most of the year?

And what opportunities are missed when an organisation does not actively use its flagpole to mark the days and occasions that matter?

Our experience from many conversations with organisations suggests something interesting.

It is rarely the desire to fly the flag that is missing.

More often, flag-flying has simply become a recurring operational task that is difficult to prioritise in a busy working day.

·       Flag-flying has to be planned.

·       Important dates have to be remembered.

·       The flag has to be raised.

·       And it has to be lowered again - often the most difficult part to coordinate.

When calendars are full, it is often precisely these small, recurring tasks that are postponed or forgotten.

 

When a tradition becomes an operational task

This is where automation changes the equation.

Professional facility management is concerned with the effective and efficient delivery of services that support an organisation’s objectives.

Automated Flag Management applies the same principle to flag-flying.

It makes it possible to preserve traditions, strengthen visibility and mark the days that matter without creating yet another recurring manual task for employees.

Active use of both corporate flags and the national flag can make an organisation more visible and help make its culture, values and sense of community tangible.

Automation simply makes it easier to do consistently.

 

References used for the international adaptation

·       Great Place To Work - Our Model

·       Gallup - Workplace Recognition

·       ISO 41001 - Facility Management Systems

Editorial note: The references support the general points about workplace culture, recognition and professional facility management. The connection between these themes and active flag use is Uptimast’s own editorial and professional perspective.