Technalink is a business that made the decision, once it went into operation, to adhere to the principles of compassionate leadership. We decided that we didn’t want to be a company that controlled our employees, but rather worked with them and became a new family of professionals that would work together for our clients, to make sure they improved their technology and finances, and became better companies themselves as result.
In other words, we wanted to help. We wanted to find people and companies that had the potential to be better, and we wanted to help them achieve that. We realized that in helping to make these companies better, we could often do our part to make the world better. It’s not just the politicians of our country that have an effect on the economy and the state of our lives. More and more, it is the companies, and the sensibility they cultivate, the responsibilities they decide to take on, that can have a big influence on the world we live in.
So if you’re trying to start a business, what kind of reputation do you want to leave behind?
It’s About More Than Money
Of course, in order for business to survive, it has to be profitable. If you’re not making a profit, you’re not able to manage your expenses, you’re not able to pay your employees, and you’re not able to make meaningful contributions to the economy or achieve your professional potential. However, one thing that compassionate leadership always emphasizes is that you should not sacrifice yourself, or your values, or your people in order to maintain profitability.
We understand that business is about hard work, and putting in the effort and dedication to achieve goals. But there are limits, and real psychological and emotional costs involved in the drive to succeed. And sometimes, those sacrifices may cost you more than the success they bring is ultimately worth.
It’s true that money is an important indicator of corporate health, and, to a degree, success. More money is al-ways good! But in the same way that only paying attention to your physical needs, and ignoring your emotional, psychological or spiritual needs can lead to personal health issues, the same is true at the business level. Money is just one way to gauge the success and health of your business and, consequently, your career.
It’s About Quality Too
Taking on the principles of compassionate leadership means that you don’t just pursue profit to the exclusion of all else. It means you look at your company and take a holistic approach. If you find that your success comes, for example, at the cost of massive turn-over in employees, then this means something is happening within your operations that is making people unhappy or upset enough to leave. So while you may garner a rep-utation for being profitable, you may also find that if you listen closely to the industry grapevine, your company now also has a reputation for being a place that treats team members badly.
From an ethical perspective, this does not reflect well upon you. But, just as importantly, from a profit perspec-tive, in the long term this may eventually affect your chances at continued success if you have trouble attracting and retaining talent because people are cautious of being treated poorly by your company.
Think About Your Future
Occasionally, as with your own life, you should stop and take stock of what your business is doing. What do you want not just the public, but the people who worked with you to say about the business you own and oper-ate? Compassionate leadership can help you answer these questions.
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