Hiring people to do a job, paying them a wage, and expecting loyalty and subservience in return is a concept stuck in the dark ages. When it comes to our employes, we don’t do them any favors — they do favors for us. We need to consciously remove the word “employee” from our vocabulary, literally and figuratively, starting today.
The people who work for you are internal customers of the organization. And they should be treated accordingly. As Seth Godin eloquently stated, we need to chase motivation and drive over talent.
Building loyalty among those that work with you to make you successful is about providing them a good work environment, taking their livelihoods seriously and investing in their growth. The salary is an important, yet small part of the overall equation. And, I almost forgot — GET OUT OF THE WAY.
The irony is that companies spend millions on building customer loyalty, but spend no time on the people who drive their success. Maybe if we invested in our internal customers, and focused on building their loyalty, they would champion our cause with our paying customers. Then building external customer loyalty would be easier, and probably a lot cheaper. Time to change the mindset.
About Hemant Rustogi
Good writing always, Hemant. I like the simplicity of language and clarity of concept that you use to present your reflections with. I have enjoyed reading all your blog posts and look forward to continue doing so. In fact, I am going to recommend it to my 16 year old son, as well. Best wishes.