“A company performs best when its people see themselves as partners in the business.”
-John Case

For over 100 years an industrial model has been the norm in business. From factories to multinationals to public service to small business, this model has permeated our thinking about how to run a successful business.

Once upon a time the industrial mindset may have been effective: bring many people together, give them very narrow job descriptions, keep the line moving, install a manager to keep people’s heads to the “grindstone”, produce more, create greater profits for the company. Grow grow grow , faster faster faster!

And bless the industrial model as it gave us the labor movement. No matter what you think of labor unions it was with much effort that workers, laboring under this industrial model, championed the 5-day work week, benefit packages, sick time, workers compensation, medical leave, unemployment insurance and vacations, to name the tip of the iceberg.

During that century many a variation has emerged: Total Quality Management, LEED, Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, ISO9000, Zero Defects, and even High Performance. All of this has been an effort, along with the labor movement, to improve upon or even humanize the industrial model.

However, there has been a sticking point: employees, for the most part, only care enough about the profits of the company to maintain their jobs. Why should they care?  They perceive you as a greedy owner who only wants to get richer; therefore, only do the minimum work necessary to keep their jobs. Your frustration with what  you see as a lack of commitment and a bad attitude causes you to become angry and crack down. And so the cycle repeats itself.

Fortunately, you can break the cycle and turn your relationship with your employees around.

Welcome the 21st Century.

We are no longer beholden to our geographic location. Business happens in a nanosecond. Customers have millions of choices at their fingertips. The world’s available resources have changed. Young workers are demanding something different. Labor unions are big business. How are you going to run your business and survive all of this?

The answer? Open the Books.

Still not convinced? Read Why Not Open Your Books?