The Key to a Company’s Success: Most Companies Get This Wrong…Does Yours?

“Organization doesn’t really accomplish anything. Plans don’t accomplish anything either. Theories of management don’t matter much. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved.”

— General Colin Powell —

Former Secretary of State & Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

General Powell said it so well. You can have the best product on the market, dedicated customers, well-oiled processes in place and grand plans for future growth … but without your people, your company is toast.

During the span of my 35-year career, I’ve seen this first-hand while operating 12 companies and helping 9 companies with a successful exit. Every one of these companies had a people problem, and it usually came down to a lack of communication.

When you realize that 80% of all working Americans hate their jobs, it’s an astonishing number. So it’s no surprise that 61% are looking for a new job at any given time. But “why?” is the real question here. In my experience, it correlates directly with poor top-down and cross-business communication, as experts cite that 60% of employees don’t know their company’s strategy.

So when revenue goals and company vision aren’t being communicated, it’s no wonder that employees don’t feel like they are doing work that matters.

The biggest challenge CEOs and business owners face

The most significant challenge faced by business leaders today is actually twofold: Retaining top talent and hiring new talent. This should be a top priority for all CEOs and business owners, especially when they’re in a high-growth mode. After all, your people are your company.

I recently read a book by Gallup called It’s the Manager, which states that the quality of managers and team leaders is the single biggest factor in your organization’s long-term success. I know from experience that everyone in your company needs to know how their role contributes to the company’s success – including the receptionist.

How to keep your people engaged

Keeping your people engaged, productive and happy comes down to and starts with communication.

  • Make sure all employees know your WHY
  • Repeat your WHY often – in meetings, memos, emails, etc.
  • Share company goals and objectives monthly, quarterly and yearly
  • Review and discuss customer expectations monthly
  • Ensure employees are focused on your customers and understand the customer experience
  • Keep communication open between customers and the executive team
  • Connect processes to the customer experience
  • Thank your employees regularly – and let them know how they contributed to your company’s growth

Where do you go from here?

To learn more on how to effectively engage your employees and have it translate into better quality and happier customers, contact me for a complimentary consultation by phone at 314-578-0958 or by email at ilebow@transformationsolutions.pro.

Ines LeBow is the CEO, Transformation Executive for ETS. She is a known catalyst for business operations, bringing 30+ years of hands-on experience. Ines has a long history of being recruited into senior executive roles to improve the execution of business operations and to drive revenue growth. You can see her LinkedIn Profile at www.linkedin.com/in/ineslebow, view the ETS website at www.transformationsolutions.pro, or email her directly at ilebow@transformationsolutions.pro.