Loving and believing in your people ends fear and transforms your business' future

This is the 13th article in a series illustrating the impact of Servant Leaders in business and organizations.

Mike Weber knows how to earn his company a profit. For example, in one position, he arrived in the middle of the year. By year’s end, revenue increased from $11 million to $12.4 million. Over the next 15 years, it increased every year to more than $56.5 million.

When you speak with him, his passion for people is evident.?Whether it's reducing costs or increasing gross margins, he knows how to run a business.

Mike believes in living his values. For him, being a servant leader comes from his faith walk with God. Specifically, he noted that the Bible calls us to serve, not to lead.?With Jesus as his guide, Mike gets his direction from the greatest leadership role model of all time.

A Culture of Interdependence

In his present position, 50 people report to Mike, which for him means his responsibility extends to 50 families. He wants everyone to feel valued and return this same spirit to his or her home. He believes that he must serve those on his team so that they find success in their careers, in the business, and, in their lives.?

Mike does this by creating a culture of interdependence, an atmosphere where everyone learns to trust and rely upon each other, where they no longer feel like they have to make decisions based on fear.

“When you do that, there’s a magical movement of alignment in the organization.”?

Now, innovation improves because people feel like those around them have their best interest at heart. Everyone has a responsibility to one another and each person should feel comfortable asking for help.

In this way, the organization gets the best each person has to offer because everyone can realize their full potential.

“The best ideas I've seen in business come from those farthest from the corporate office.”

Mike is continually coaching, helping others improve, and reinforcing these ideas. For example, when doing performance appraisals, a favorite question:

"How did you help someone else to succeed?"

While the answer is a part of any pay increase, most important is the culture everyone on the team is creating.?

Mike asks us:

“Can you imagine full engagement, 100% of all people serving each other?”

Relationships with Customers

Mike believes that if you make a promise and do not deliver, you're lacking integrity.

In a previous assignment, his team filled 30,000 orders a year.?While competitors were shipping in two weeks, Mike and his team we’re getting it done in two days. On time delivery like this required that they had the inventory on the shelf, and they proved it.?

When asked how he they did this, Mike's response:

“I didn’t, they did. It was my responsibility to create a culture where they could.”

Behind the scenes, Mike taught and reinforced the company values. For instance, it was important to answer the phone. If a customer bought their product and had a problem, they had to know they could call and reach someone who was going to address their concerns.

“Our customers are important to us” was NOT a cliché.

Mike made it a point to walk the shop. After a new hire was with them for a while, he’d illustrate the impact of their work. If they did not do a task, he made clear what the customer would experience at the other end.

In shipping for example, if the customer had to wait for a part that might mean an extended stay away from family. Once the employees understood their role, everything became easier. In this way, he instilled purpose within every member of his team.

“If we make the customer more important than us, who are you going to do business with?”

During an eight-year stretch at one company, his team competed to be one of the best places to work in Pittsburgh. They applied four times, each time winning the award. In his present company, he instilled change within 4 months of his arrival where on time delivery rates went from 68% to 82%!

Loving and Believing Leads to Something Beyond Expectations

Mike instills an attitude of keeping relationships at the center of every interaction. As a consequence, his employees have developed a sense of ownership, and now because it is their company, business something more.?It is purposeful.

The way Mike sees it, the real key is that people need their leaders to love their people and believe in them.

“When we do that, flourishing occurs. Transformation occurs.”

Until next week …

Stewardship: It’s how you touch a soul that lasts for eternity.

Join and participate in our LinkedIN group, Your Evolving Servant Leadership Journey.

About the Author

Tom Crea is a decorated career Army Officer, Blackhawk Helicopter pilot, and servant leadership ambassador.?Because of his proven skills, he was hand selected to run the Army’s leadership development program at two Boston colleges, where he and his team transformed college students into combat leaders.?

Today, he is a Keynote Speaker, Leadership Development Coach, and Chief Experience Officer. He is also the author of Unleash Your Values, and podcast host for Your Evolving Leadership Journey.