People Are More Than Assets

Too many businesses view their people as assets or numbers on a balance sheet. The key to growing a successful business is treating your people as, well, people. A lot of business owners have a one-track mind — to maximize profits — but, the only way to do that is by recognizing every employee as a valuable member of a working machine. If only one part of the machine is broken, the entire machine is broken.

Every successful business, from a mom-and-pop shop to an international enterprise, needs people who believe in the mission and are as committed to the growth of the company as the owner. People are more than assets to the company. They are a part of the family. Similarly to parenting, your employees need to be valued and appreciated for the work they do every day.

If the employees feel that they are not viewed as more than just a worker, the company culture can’t improve. An important element of creating a lasting legacy with the business is having staff that want to stay and grow with the family.

Likewise, every employee needs work-life balance. A company culture is more than just what happens in the four walls of the storefront. It combines the actual output with the employee mentality in the business. Anyone can fall victim to burnout, so everyone needs quality time outside of work to avoid it. Happiness and health outside of the company can improve the happiness and health inside the company.

Everyone has an important job to do, just like any chief officer. Your people were hired for the skills and knowledge they have, and need their supervisors’ trust to do just that. Remember that every chief officer rose through the ranks by doing the work that they now oversee, and had the space to grow professionally from their own supervisors.

People are more than assets. Treating your employees like actual human beings instead of numbers on a spreadsheet can do wonders for the goal that a lot of owners focus on — maximizing profit. Everyone wants to be valued and appreciated, so treat your employees like you would your own family. Because, in many ways, they are.