People are your greatest asset

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:48:43 GMT

November 2023 - Julie Nottage

Many of us in business have heard the popular aphorism, “People are your greatest asset.” Some of us may even believe it. But is this sentiment reflected in our business culture?

I have just spent an amazing day with sixth formers at St Brendan’s college in Bristol doing mock interviews and a careers talk. It made me reflect that today it’s a real market for great people to find jobs where they can give their all, be happy and IF treated well and valued by companies, succeed for themselves and others. In my career I was blessed to work for some wonderful managers who believed in me and gave me the confidence to succeed - they valued me as an individual not just as an employee. Jonathan Myers Mat Baker Malcolm Brookes but to name a few!

Yes, people are “assets” to many less emotionally intelligent bosses but those who get results through their people not despite them will end up with happy, motivated, successful people AND the business results needed. At your peril neglect, disinvest and lack care for others! You will lose potentially great people down to your own shortcomings not theirs!

People management should be the top skill looked for but too many companies today short sightedly look for that great guy who drives the results and potentially neglects their people.

In today’s buoyant job market do this at your peril as this will not be the way to retain or attract top talent!

#people #culture #talent #resultsthroughpeoplenotdespitethem

Why people are the most important asset in your business

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:46:30 GMT

Why People are the most important asset in your business .
November 2023 - Julie Nottage

In this modern era of fast paced business, challenging economic circumstances and the uncertainty of change successful businesses need to recognise the most valuable asset of their business is actually right under their noses. Yes, it’s their people. Too many companies in tough times look at their people and automatically cut costs by looking firstly at training cuts, salaries freezes or even worse redundancies. Yet this is just so short term and not sustainable if there is to be hope of future success in these businesses.

Many great leaders of the past have recognised this. As a former CEO of P&G, Richard R. Dupree said in 1947, “If you leave us our money, our buildings, and our brands, but take away our people, the Company will fail. But if you take away our money, our buildings, and our brands, but leave us our people, we can rebuild the whole thing in a decade.”

I once attended a speech by the CEO of Greggs the Bakers, and he explained that in good times you don't necessarily need to invest in people as the success you are having creates that “feel good factor” that motivates and inspires others. However, you do need to invest in people when times are tough to enable them to battle through challenges and have the resistance to succeed despite the environment.

In my career of managing many great people who have gone on to many successes I always use the mantra that:

“Business is done THROUGH people not despite them.”

Are you prepared to invest in the best asset your business has?

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People are your greatest asset

Why people are the most important asset in your business