Leadership Goes Beyond the Bottom Line
Sep 23, 2019

When you’re a leader — no matter how long you’ve been in your role or how hard the journey was to get there — you are merely overhead unless you’re bringing out the best in your employees. Unfortunately, many leaders lose sight of this.

Employee DiscussionLeaders often do not see the true value of their role in the business, and put too much focus on the wrong things. The quest for success and the fear of not hitting targets, fear of losing bonuses and fear of failing drive leaders into isolation or a posture of micromanagement, where managers become increasingly metric-driven in an effort to reduce costs and improve delivery times. This behavior will quickly destroy your business by lowering engagement. But when leaders are humble, show respect and ask how they can serve employees as they improve the organization, the outcomes can be outstanding.

It’s not that the numbers don’t matter. They do. I am huge fan of score cards. I love efficiency, systems, data analytics and automation. But if you are only disciplined and focused around what you and others do, you will miss the real purpose of leadership, and your company and your people will not grow.

Can I let you in on a secret? Employees who do the actual work of your organization often know better than you how to do a great job. Respecting their ideas — and encouraging them to try new approaches to improve work — motivates employees to bring more of themselves to work.

Leading others well requires support, helping others identify areas of personal and professional growth, and affirming who your team members are as well as what they do. Small changes create a virtuous cycle. As the adage goes, “People will only remember 6% of what you do, but 100% of how you make them feel.”


Regardless of your industry, this is what customers want! And it is also what your team members want. To feel cared for, important, special, and to know you are concerned for them.

Don't miss Pete Lovelace as he takes a deeper dive into virtuous company cultures at  SGIA's THREADX 2020 conference (February 23 - 25; Scottsdale, AZ). Learn more and register today.

Business Business Conferences Employment Management

Related Content

California Makes Big Changes to Prop 65 Warning Statements

On December 6, 2024, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) finalized several amendments to Proposition 65 (Prop 65) warning statements. This law, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires businesses to provide a “clear and reasonable” warning on products that contain chemicals exceeding an established safe harbor level and have been deemed to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity by the state.

Imagine Studio Adds Two Dynamic Talents to Elevate Creative Partnerships and Brand Experiences

MINNEAPOLIS – Imagine Studio, the creative powerhouse within Imagine, a leading provider of visual communications, is thrilled to announce the addition of David Nguyen and Kim Mitchell to its team. This bold move underscores Imagine Studio’s mission to revolutionize how marketers, designers, and brands craft impactful retail environments, innovative displays, and unforgettable in-store experiences through design and production.

2024 In Review: CJK Group’s Landmark Year of Growth, Integration, Redefinition

Brainerd, MN — CJK Group, Inc. has celebrated a year-long journey of growth and realignment with many pivotal events setting the course for a dynamic future in the publishing industry and beyond. February 2024 saw the acquisition of Kodi Collective LLC, a leading portfolio of full spectrum print and creative marketing solutions spanning multiple print facilities and a full-service photography/ videography and creative studio with a network of over 400 validated suppliers.
}