One of the dichotomies in business is that you need sales to grow the business, and you need to improve the business to grow sales.  There are several propellants to helping your team, your company, or your organization to reach its potential.

One key is to expand ownership.

Don’t worry.

Put your stock certificates away.

I mean, expand the ownership mentality in your organization.  Think about it this way.  What would happen if EVERYONE in your business thought like an owner?  What would “go right?”  Think of the typical business obstacles you face each day – would they be minimized or, better yet, eradicated?

Most businesses bump into two obstacles regularly:  sales not hitting their target and people connecting as adversaries rather than collaborating.

Look at the most successful teams in other companies you know and respect.  Do they have a great leader?  Of course, but one leader alone can’t do it.  Exponential improvements come from multiplying the leadership or ownership mentality in an organization.

So what would change in the performance of your business if those in leadership thought and executed like owners?

While you have your strategic plan for 2012 ready, the time to begin the process of transformation is now.