Pacific Office Automation employees perform a skit during their annual meeting. The skits are a reminder that it's okay to have fun at POA, and not to take yourself too seriously. The skit also signifies that having a great year in business doesn't happen without the support of everyone in the room.
Pacific Office Automation president, Doug Pitassi, believes in setting measurable goals that the company calls "keeping score."
Pacific Office Automation believes that without metrics for success, a company will lack a clear sense of goals or steps it needs to take to achieve them, making it difficult to grow.
Management guru Peter Drucker famously said, “If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.” Measuring success is critical because it helps set goals, evaluate performance, allocate resources, and stay ahead of the competition. At Pacific Office Automation (POA), everything is measurable, and the company calls it "keeping score."
Cut to a Saturday afternoon in January. POA’s top sales executives have earned the opportunity to be cast as characters from the film Ocean’s Eleven in a skit on stage in front of 900 of their coworkers in real life, and several hundred more online. These are the company’s most elite client representatives, with more than $100 million in sales among them, and their commitment to the bit, which included wigs, glue-on mustaches, and bell bottoms, tells you how much they care about the company and its culture.
This skit, one of five at POA’s Annual Meeting of employees, partners, and manufacturers, provides a break about two-thirds of the way into the event where the company measures results from the previous year, and sets expectations for the year ahead. Like most years, 2023’s event was electric. When revenue achievements were announced by regions, the teams representing each one cheered their achievements with pride. And just as importantly, the company whistled for the acknowledgment of outstanding individual contributions.
The Ocean’s Eleven-inspired sales team, or the Family Feud-style quiz show, or the performances by NY-based improvisors Freestyle Love Supreme reminded everyone that it’s okay to have fun here, and not take yourself too seriously.
But this isn’t just a silly performance: It’s an important reminder that this great year couldn’t have ended the way it did without the support of everyone in the room. POA wins, learns, and thrives together through ever-changing business challenges with entrepreneurial leadership, fierce competition, and the power of a team who treats one another like family.
“I like to focus the company on a theme to drive our growth each year, and grit encapsulates the passion, courage, and determination that our employees demonstrate on a daily basis,” said President Doug Pitassi, while reflecting on the theme of 2023’s Annual Meeting.
POA believes their business can only be successful when areas that need improvement are identified. By celebrating areas of opportunity, POA is able to increase competitiveness and accountability. Without metrics for success, a company will lack a clear sense of goals or steps it needs to take to achieve them, making it difficult to grow. As Pacific Office Automation concludes 2022 with its 44th consecutive year of growth, they’re confident that they’ve perfected the art of keeping score.
Going into 2023, the company is centered on innovative ways to serve customers, primarily with managed IT services. The goal is clear to all that 20 percent of total company revenue will be generated from IT, security, and ancillary services within the next five years.
What is the measure of success at your company in 2023, and how can POA help you get there?
Pacific Office Automation employees perform a skit during their annual meeting. The skits are a reminder that it's okay to have fun at POA, and not to take yourself too seriously. The skit also signifies that having a great year in business doesn't happen without the support of everyone in the room.
