Let\u2019s center ourselves for a moment and recall that my philosophy of business, based on degrees in accounting and business administration and over thirty-five years of work experience in the government and private sectors, is this: Successful organizations are people centered, servant led, values focused, purpose driven, community friendly, and environmentally responsible.<\/p>\n
So why should your organization be people centered?\u00a0 Quite simply, because performance is personal before it is organizational. \u00a0You want and need sustainable top performance from your organization.\u00a0 You cannot expect to get it if your people are not free to achieve\u00a0their own personal best performance (\u201cThe \u2018R\u2019 Factor\u201d, Timothy Kight).\u00a0 They need to be\u00a0fully engaged in their work activities to be\u00a0satisfied on the job and motivated to do their best.\u00a0 You need not only their bodies and minds but their hearts and souls as well.\u00a0 No matter what the mission, vision, values, or strategy of your organization, people cannot produce sustained superior performance without burning out.\u00a0 As a business person, you need to be aware of what fuels their internal fire.<\/p>\n
In a capitalistic society, or even in socialist or communist societies, it\u2019s not just money fueling the internal fire that drives performance.\u00a0 In fact, neither money nor profit appears in the primary definition of capitalism.\u00a0 Money is an immediate, but not a sole\u00a0long term\u00a0satisfier.\u00a0 Over time, most people become complacent about money and it becomes less of a motivating factor.\u00a0 Money quite simply becomes just one of many rewards a person receives for being fully engaged in meaningful work.<\/p>\n
When complacency sets in it leads to lackluster performance and sliding product or service quality, inattention on the job leads to accidents and increased costs, and absences leave key positions unstaffed at critical times.\u00a0 Your critical processes suffer and drift off target or in the worst cases, completely stop functioning.<\/p>\n
Initially people just need to put clothes on their backs, a roof over their heads, and food on the table.\u00a0 Enough money, consider it base pay, can usually do that.\u00a0 People expect their first job out of school to do at least that.\u00a0 But ultimately, people are more impacted by the need for equity, social acceptance and satisfying work consistent with their gifts, talents, passions, and experience.\u00a0 Burnout occurs even faster if these needs are not satisfied.\u00a0 They dial back their performance or leave the organization when they burn out.\u00a0 And that affects your organization\u2019s performance in both production and cost.<\/p>\n
Most people will give their heart and soul to their job if what\u2019s in it for them includes not just money, but fulfillment of these non-monetary needs as well.\u00a0 If their own principles and mission are consistent with those of the organization, you will get better performance.\u00a0 If they see the meaning in their work, you will get better performance.\u00a0 If they are happy in their work environment and less affected by personal circumstances, you will get better performance.<\/p>\n
We won\u2019t get into Frederick Herzberg\u2019s Dual Factor Theory, or Abraham Maslow\u2019s Hierarchy of Needs, or Vroom\u2019s Expectancy Theory, or even the book First, Break All The Rules<\/span>, by Buckingham and Coffman.\u00a0 Suffice it to say that it is important for you as a business person to know that people are driven\u00a0by more than money over the long haul.\u00a0 If they feel they are treated\u00a0equitably, if they feel included, if they are gifted\u00a0and talented to perform\u00a0the work needed, if they have the expertise and a passion for the work, then they are prepared\u00a0to engage not just their bodies and minds, but their hearts and souls in not only their job but also the mission of their organization.\u00a0 Note that I said, \u201c\u2026prepared\u00a0to engage.\u201d\u00a0 What will make them engage can be found in the organization\u2019s leadership, values and purpose.<\/p>\n Why should your organization be people centered? \u00a0It should be people centered because it depends on its vendors, customers, community, and employees.\u00a0 People are your most valuable resource, and the heart of your organization.\u00a0 If you engage their bodies, minds, hearts, and souls, i.e., get their very best performance, they can free your organization to achieve its full potential.\u00a0 If not, their lack of performance can put you out of business.\u00a0 In my opinion, those are excellent reasons to become people centered.<\/p>\n So here\u2019s another question for you as a business person, \u201cHow can you do more for your people than just pay them to do a job?\u201d\u00a0 Well, that\u2019s the subject of our next blog entry\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let\u2019s center ourselves for a moment and recall that my philosophy of business, based on degrees in accounting and business administration and over thirty-five years of work experience in the government and private sectors, is this: Successful organizations are people centered, servant led, values focused, purpose driven, community friendly, and environmentally responsible. So why should … Continue reading Why Should Your Organization Be People Centered?<\/span>