“Everything of value that happens in business happens between people” says M Business Club Founder, Leigh Eggins.
Of course the numbers are crucial in any business, as is your marketing and supply chain. Let’s also not forget about technology, and what would a business look like without its people? We believe that to truly succeed in business, you must understand and value people.
Think of the culture in your business and the style of your management team, does it put people first? If we want to be successful business leaders, we must understand that if we put people first, more often than not, everything else falls into place.
To provide some insight, we wanted to share these valuable results from a study (it’s from 2012 and is still very relevant). It reveals the impact a business can have when they meet each of the four core needs of their employees.
- Renewal (encouraging your team to take regular breaks and the importance of providing flexibility in the average 40 hour work week) – the stats don’t lie, this can make or break your team.
- Value (showing genuine care and support for your team) – this is a game changer for engagement!
- Focus (how multitasking and prioritising can impact team efficiency) – can humans really excel doing five tasks at any one time?
- Purpose (the importance of your team finding meaning and significance in their roles) – if loyalty and longevity is important, this is a big one.
Now, you’re probably wondering how you can deliver on all of the above (if you aren’t already engaging with your team on most of these already).
Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” unshakable optimist and best-selling author Simon Sinek teaches leaders and organisations how to inspire people. Simon may just have the answer we are looking for, he says…
“Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first”.
Boom! There you have it.
So, where can you start if you are not already nailing this?
Start by asking and listening to what your team has to say (preferably in person if possible, not via a survey). And by this we mean genuinely engaging with your team, it’s a two-way relationship.
Think regular brainstorm meetings (ask your team for their input), “out-of-the-office” team lunches (eating at your desk everyday is a kill-joy), actioning suggestions they make (this will keep them smiling), and how about an ‘open-door’ policy (this will quickly knock any gripes on the head).
If you begin to give your people the energy they deserve, the opportunities and the results are endless. Rome wasn’t built in a day, either will your business be. Keep it simple and be authentic with the people in your business and you will accelerate your progress and reap the rewards.
We’d love to hear you, tell us the number one “people-first” strategy your business has implemented with great success? Drop us an email.
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