Believe, Belong, Succeed: Transforming Your Business by Thinking Bigger

In the world of running an establish business, leaders far too often get caught up in the relentless pursuit of profits, losing sight of why they created the business in the first place, grappling with the daily grind of surviving and losing sight of the bigger picture that they once had. The temptation to focus solely on the immediate financial gains can overshadow the more significant, long-term benefits of fostering a people-centric culture. At Forward Thinking East Lancashire , we believe in a different approach—one that not only yields substantial financial success, but also creates a thriving, empowered community within your own business. Inspired by the principles of Daniel Priestley's Key Person of Influence and the strategic insights from great book Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, we aim to guide you in transforming your business by putting people first and thinking bigger.

The Essence of Leadership: Trust and Recognition

In Key Person of Influence, Daniel Priestley emphasises the importance of leaders being seen as trusted and recognised figures within their industries. This concept is not just about personal branding; it’s about the ability to influence, inspire, and lead effectively. Trust is built through consistent, authentic communication and by demonstrating genuine care for your people, your teams and your customers. Recognition, on the other hand, stems from showcasing your expertise and the unique value you bring to the table.

To become a real key person of influence in your business, start by crafting a compelling message, "your pitch" that resonates with both your teams and your customers alike. This message should encapsulate your vision, your purpose, and the Super power or unique approach you bring to your industry. It’s all about telling your story, in a way that inspires and motivates others to join you on your journey.

Creating Your Blue Ocean: A Unique Approach to Business

The Blue Ocean Strategy provides a powerful framework for creating a whole new market space—one that is completely uncontested and ripe with opportunities. In contrast to the overly familiar, cutthroat competition of a red ocean, a blue ocean strategy involves innovating and differentiating your business and the way in which you work, to stand out in a profoundly meaningful way.

To create your own blue ocean, you'll need to define what really sets your business apart from the rest. At Forward Thinking East Lancashire , our unique way of doing things revolves around our four key pillars: Transformation, Accountability, Community, and Recognition. By focusing on these pillars, we help businesses grow in the right way—by putting people first, front and centre and fostering an environment where every single person can thrive.

1. Transformation: This involves a fundamental shift in how you currently think about and run your business. It’s about redefining your vision, your purpose, and your goals, aligning them with a people-first mentality (Trust will be the biggest obstacle to overcome). This transformation instantly leads to clarity, direction, and a simple roadmap to success.
2. Accountability: Creating a culture of accountability ensures that everyone in the business understands their roles and the part they play in achieving the collective goals. No more bystander apathy and shrugging off responsibility. It fosters ownership and seriously empowers your teams to make better decisions and take initiative, (No more tolerating bad behaviour too).
3. Community: Building a strong internal community is also crucial for breaking down silos and fostering cross-functional collaboration. It’s about creating a shared sense of purpose and ensuring that everyone is moving forward together.
4. Recognition: Recognising and celebrating the contributions of your team members is essential for maintaining motivation and morale. It’s about acknowledging the impact of each individual and the value they bring to the organisation.

Think Bigger: Leading from the Top Down

For owner-operators and managing directors, the challenge often lies in letting go of the day-to-day grind (working IN the business and not ON the business), and really starting focus on the bigger picture. It’s about transitioning from being a small business to thinking and acting like a leader of a larger, more influential enterprise, the business that you want or need to be.

To do this, you need to lead from the top down, every single behaviour, message and action—by setting a compelling vision for the future of your business and communicating it clearly and consistently to your team. This vision should be ambitious yet achievable, and it should inspire your team to believe in the mission, belong to the community, and succeed in their roles.

1. Creating a Compelling Vision: Your vision should be more than just a statement; it should be a crystal clear, laser guided, vivid picture of the future you want to create. It should encapsulate ALL of your core values and the impact you want your business to have on the world. Share this vision with your team and involve them in the process of achieving it and watch them fly.
2. Empowering Your Team: Empowerment comes from trust and delegation. TRUST your team to take ownership of their tasks, their roles and give them the autonomy to freely make decisions. Provide them with all the resources and support that they need to succeed, and recognise their achievements along the way, every single day, every single success or failure.
3. Fostering a Culture of Believe, Belong, Succeed: To create a culture where everyone feels valued and motivated, focus on the principles of Believe, Belong, Succeed. This isn't about slides, pool tables and coffee machines. Encourage your team to believe in their own abilities and the wider mission of the business. Foster a real sense of belonging by building a strong, supportive community. And provide the tools and opportunities for them to succeed in their roles.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Many, many leaders struggle with common issues such as a lack of direction, poor internal communication, Staff leaving and disengagement among team members. These challenges can often lead to frustration, burnout, and a sense of helplessness. However, by adopting a people-first approach and focusing on the principles outlined above, you can overcome these obstacles and create a thriving business environment.

1. Lack of Direction: Without a clear vision and plan, it’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day operations, not being able to see the wood's for the tree's and eventually resenting your own business. Take the time to define your destination and map out the route to get there. Involve your team in this process to ensure everyone is aligned and moving in the same direction.
2. Poor Internal Communication: Effective communication is the backbone of any successful organisation. Establish regular channels of communication, meet regularly and ensure that any information flows freely across all levels of the business. Encourage open dialogue and feedback to keep everyone informed and engaged.
3. Disengagement: Disengagement often stems from a lack of vison and a lack of recognition and purpose. Show your team that you value their contributions by recognising their every effort and celebrating their successes. Provide opportunities for growth and development to keep them motivated and invested in the success of the business. Learn to share the numbers, let them see the results of their efforts.

The Impact of Good Growth

At Forward Thinking East Lancashire , we believe in the concept of good growth—growth that is sustainable, ethical, and people-centric. Good growth is not just about increasing revenue and profits; it’s about creating a positive impact on your team, your customers, and the broader community.

When you prioritise good growth, you create an environment where people are motivated to do their best work and are aligned with the mission and values of the business. This leads to higher employee engagement, better customer satisfaction, and ultimately, greater financial success.

Conclusion: The Path to Success

Transforming your business and becoming a key person of influence requires a complete shift in mindset which has often being lost in the fog and a commitment to putting people first. By creating a compelling vision, empowering your teams, and fostering a culture of Believe, Belong, Succeed, you can overcome any of the common challenges faced by business leaders and achieve sustainable, meaningful growth.

At Forward Thinking East Lancashire , we are dedicated to helping you navigate this journey. Our Success GPS programme combines real life, practical psychology along with strategic business planning delivered by real business owners, to guide you in creating a thriving, people-centric business. Together, we can redefine the way you do business and create a new blue ocean of opportunities.

Are you ready to think bigger and lead from the top down?

Let’s embark on this transformative journey together and create a future where your business and your people can truly succeed.

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Do you need help working out whats missing in your business?

THIS is exactly what we do at Forward Thinking East Lancashire, let us help you to define your future and reach your destination with Passion, Purpose and Clarity.

Click the link above and book a call, let's book a complimentary 90 minute Business Mapping Session .

This is so achievable. Trust me "I did it", so can you. It's all about re-framing your thoughts, defining your purpose and tweaking your mission and then sharing your journey with the teams.

PEOPLE.DO.WORK