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Truly effective business leaders have both an operational mindset and a heart for people.

You will occasionally meet a leader who has singular focus toward one side or the other; but they will be limited because of it. On one hand, a leader must build the business with close attention to the bottom line; and on the other hand, they must build the people that build the business.

But the real bottom line of a business is PEOPLE – the people who serve and the customers they serve.

In the context of current technology, it is still very much about people. Technology is a resource. Seth Godin says it well in his new book, “Humans aren’t a resource. They are the point.”

If you’re not building and serving people, you have no business.   

So how can you, as a leader, get to this important point?

Here are questions to consider.

• How do you view your team?
• How do they view you?
• Do your people feel like you are setting them up for success or throwing them under the bus?
• Do you actively look for ways to support and empower your team?
• Do you take the time to connect with them before beginning a meeting or a call?
• Do you view them as task doers or as leaders in their realm of expertise?
• Do you request their input and then actively listen to their thoughts?
• Do you take the time to coach and mentor them?
• Do you notice when they go the extra mile to help you reach a goal or a deadline?
• Do you thank them?
• Do you communicate clear expectations and then make yourself available for questions?
• Do you give them grace when they make a mistake and help them grow beyond it?
• Do you keep a finger on the energy pulse of your team, or do you expect them to push at all times with no pause in between major initiatives?
• Do you genuinely care about your people?

“These things take time, and we have work to do. They just need to work faster, or I’ll replace them with AI.”

You know who says that?

The leader who just lost their entire team…the leader who missed the point.

The point? That the real bottom line of business is PEOPLE.

As the CEO of Strength Leader Development, Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after international executive mentor, coach, trainer, and speaker. Deb is well versed in global business operations and helps business leaders and their teams to discover and leverage their strengths, so they can create highly collaborative teams that deliver great results. With a refreshingly direct style, and using the Maxwell Method, Deb helps leaders and teams to deliver profitable results. Connect with Deb to learn more about her mentorship and coaching programs to equip you with advanced strategies to elevate your results