Roy H. Williams and I have not yet met.  But I think I know him.  When we do meet, I am pretty sure I am going to like him.   Roy, who is known in the business world as the “Wizard of Ads” has been sending me a Monday Morning Memo since April 13, 2003. Last week, the Monday Morning Memo was all about beliefs, which gave me the inspiration for this series of blogs, which will focus on the impact of beliefs on behavior and the impact of behavior on other people

We believe that any group of one or more people represents a culture, or at the very least a subculture, that impacts some form of a bottom line
Cultures and subcultures have some common characteristics.  One of those is that the beliefs usually reflect the designated leader.  That is why leading your business begins with a thorough understanding and communication of owner motivation and perspective.  The beliefs you have as the leader of the pack, are the aortas that run through your organization and your family.  It does not matter whether the leader is a she or a he; the leader’s motivation and perspective trump all others.

Many of us do not have the objectivity, self-awareness, or empathy to recognize the impact of our beliefs and behaviors on others when we play this trump card.  If we did, most of us would not wish for “do-overs” with some of those closest or most important to us. 

So what impact do your beliefs and behaviors have on your culture?  Ask yourself a series of questions like these: 

  • Is there a clear connection between what we promise and what we deliver?
  • If we tell family or employees that they come first, do we behave in ways that make that believable?
  • Are we client centered or profit oriented?  (They are not mutually exclusive, by the way.)
  • Do “my people” get it?
  • Are rewards in our organization (family) earned or an entitlement?
  • Are people to be outsmarted, or are they to be served?
  • Does our brand match our mission, vision, and values?
  • Has this business/family become something other than what I had intended it to be?  Is it something I want to leave as a legacy?

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