How to Get Your Workers to Think and Act Like Owners

How can I get my workers to think and act like owners?

First of all, you may never get most employees to think this way, so let's focus on how to get a top manager or two to do so. Here are six guidelines:

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#1. Hire people who already think this way. You want someone who is committed to your mission, is dedicated to doing an excellent job, loves the work, and has the skills and temperament needed.

These people aren't easy to find. (Understatement of the year!) But they do exist. So when you find them, do what it takes to keep them. They want equity? Perhaps (after a testing and vesting period). But they may be just as happy with performance bonuses. The key is, you start with a person who is already likely to give you what you want, and then reward them when they do so.

The corollary: Don’t let yourself be held back by employees who aren’t capable of doing this.

#2. Tell them how you want them to think and perform. Big picture, advocate of the company to the employees, focus on both dollar and people goals, etc.

#3. Give them the support they need. Good systems. Staff help. With one of my clients, their up-and-coming division head initially turned down a promotion to director of operations because he saw his workload doubling if he was in effect performing two jobs.

#4. Give them the space to blossom. Get them going, then keep out of their way. Your own habitual management style (control freak!) can hold them back or drive them away.

#5. Set goals and targets with them, then hold them accountable for results. Don't micromanage; don't second guess. DO give oversight and feedback.

#6. Groom and coach them. Especially important for someone promoted to a higher position. They are accustomed to managing people at one level, but managing managers may be beyond their comfort zone initially.

I'm in danger of recreating an MBA management course here. But my point is that to get people to think and act like owners, sharing ownership is less important than hiring the right people and managing them properly.

And that's the rub: many small business owners who have grown their business from Square 1 are themselves unaccustomed to managing people in this way. (That's why they come work with me!)

We’re initiating an Executive Mindset program this fall to help train your #2 manager to think like the executive you want to back you up in your business.

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