Are you building a business or building people?

As a business owner, leader or manager, your company’s goals may include growth, improved service or diversity in product offerings. No matter what the goals are, in the end, they all require individuals to achieve them. The motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, said “You don’t build a business – you build people – and then, people build your business.” The statement rings true and a few key points jump out at me when I reflect on this statement.

First, let’s consider the element of trust. When you trust your employees and respect them, you start to build a mutual connection. At the end of the day, a business is built on the backs of humans not bricks and mortar so establishing an understanding of one another is essential to every person’s success in the company or organization.

Now, once trust has been created, empowering your team members becomes easier. Both employees and employers will have gained confidence in each other and leaders are able to relinquish “control” of projects or tasks. By entrusting your capable team members to lead initiatives, you help them build and use their skills. At the same time, you have more time to devote to develop your own skills and focus on strategy and the vision of the company - the bigger picture.

Finally, it is extremely important as a leader or business owner to acknowledge that while the success of the business may be the result of the vision and strategies that have been executed, it is not a solo effort. It is the combined effort, dedication and hard work of each and every person in the company that has contributed to the ultimate and overall success of the company. So, remember to celebrate the small and big wins with your team when you can.

At the end of the day, the business on its own is just a building, but it's the people inside the building who are all heart and give it life.