Creating an Ownership Mentality

  

Creating an Ownership Mentality

Employees who understand and value a company's mission are more likely to treat the company like owners.   They will rally together and fight battles that come. Smart companies understand what it takes to create that "warrior spirit" mentality and use it to propel them to success.  Here's how you can do the same. 

Ask the following questions to find out if your employees have an ownership mentality:

• Are employees proud to work at your company? How do you know?  

        Tip:  Conduct an anonymous survey or focus groups             and find out.  Then do something about it.

• What are they talking about in chat rooms and blogs?

        Tip:  Go online and find out, then join the chats and               clarify any misconceptions.

• If  uniformed employees run into customers outside of the work environment,what comments are the customers making?  

       Tip:  Put on a company uniform and walk around your community.  

• As a company, are you sharing profits with employees?  

       Tip:  If not actual dollars, can you share anything else tangible that ties back to the profitability of the          company (party, days off, etc)?

• How well are you doing  explaining financial goals and what will happen if you reach those goals? Employees should understand how they impact the bottom line, regardless of position.  

       Tip:  Find fun ways to share the financial message via videos, games, contests, etc.  

 

Examples:  

• Bring a cost-cutting message to the forefront by asking each employee to save the company $5.00 per day.  Show them the impact on the bottom line if they do.  It’s much easier to implement a “Doing More with Less” philosophy when employees know why you are doing it.
• Have leaders spend time in break rooms, remote locations, etc. to ensure employees feel connected. 
• Send senior leaders in your company to visit a location or department other than those they work with twice a year.  Pair a VP with a Director, for example, and have them visit employees in the break room, perhaps buy a pizza lunch and hang out.  Upon their return, have them submit a report with all the issues they heard and ensure someone follows up and gets back with the employees about

 

Employees who feel valued understand the company’s mission and know how they fit into the big picture.  Their pride of ownership is the solid foundation you will need to build a strong organization. 

 

Visit Lorraine at www.lorrainegrubbs.com and learn how a happy workplace equals happy employees.