This blog entry is focused mainly on business owners or companies that are still privately held. However, if you’re in a publicly traded company, the concepts will apply to your department or function just as easily.
This week, I just have a challenge for you. As you go through the week, pause before each activity you must do or meeting you attend and ask why are we doing this, or why is this important. You and your team need to know and understand the why behind what you’re doing. Why? Because human beings innately need to believe that what they are doing has meaning, otherwise, they will give up on the activity.
If you are the business owner or founder, why did you start your business? It’s not just to make money. Starting a business is really hard work and there are easier ways to make money. So what was your why?
Now, do the other people in your company know, understand, and believe in your why as much as you? If they do, great! You’re in a very elite group. If not, you need to make a commitment to change that.
Ask your self, how much time do you spend talking with your team about your company or department’s vision, where you are going, and why.
When taking on a new initiative, do you share the reasoning behind it or simply declare the new direction?
Do your actions reflect what you say is important or do they send a different message. For example, we care about quality, but the product better ship by the end of the day or there will be some explaining to do.
Your “Why” for being in business needs to be personal and compelling for everyone on your team and in your company, otherwise, it’s just another job to earn a paycheck. And as a business owner, do you want people working for you that are just looking to earn a paycheck?
