Creating a Human and Financial Profit Centre
Adopting a culture of openness for improvement.
We need to infect rank and file employees with the ideals
set out in the Vision, Mission and Goals of the business.
We hear the right ideas and ideals expressed by business leaders
at business forums and conferences. Unfortunately, too often, when we speak to
the rank and file employees at the shop floor, we hear cynicism and skepticism
in reference to these expressed ideals. These are the people who live in the
real world of limited or stretched resources to get the job done. A factory
worker, or security guard or truck driver may not have the opportunity to give
feedback that could make the task more sustainable for the business, the planet
and humanity.
As stated in the book, Global
Productivity Mindset – Opportunities & Profits Post 2008, "Vision
and Mission statements must come off the boardroom walls and be instilled into
the workforce as a global productivity mindset driving organizations". We
should give employees ownership of the business vision and mission.
The people on the ground may have the solutions the Board of
Directors and senior Management seek. Creating an atmosphere where ideas are
explored for practical solutions needs to be cultivated from the ground up with
top leadership supporting constructive "shop-floor" initiatives that
profit the business, people and the planet.
In many jurisdictions an incorporated business is recognized
as a separate "legal personality" distinct from the shareholders and
directors. This legal personality has the potential of immortality.
By viewing the corporation as a, "centre for human and
financial profit" we can increase business success.
Business owners need to buy into the idea that investing in the
human beings who constitute the stakeholders in the business is as essential as
investing into product development, processes and markets. It fits into the
idea of "a culture of putting people first, before financial profits"
that leads long term to a sustainable business.
Release the humanity in the people who are involved in the
business and we stimulate a spirit of innovation and enterprise.
The challenge is in creating a mindset for sustainable
profit by putting the people and planet first.
This is best done by infecting rank and file employees with
the passion of the top leaders through discussion groups within the business.
Here an outside consultant well briefed by the leadership can help design
internal programs that encourage the expressing of ideas by employees within a
system that processes these ideas into actionable initiatives.
International Business Consultant
Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada
