'People First' because who needs Profit when you have happy employees, am I right?

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon Susanne Cornelius' (CEO Douglas Brands) post in which she articulated her guiding principle 'People First!', which aims to benefit both the employer and the employee equally.

This led me to wonder whether people truly understand what 'People First' really means. As a principle that is often romanticized by the media, it can give the impression that it's all about people without considering the needs of the business. However, this is far from the truth. Businesses are not social institutions whose sole purpose is to take care of their employees no matter what. There are certain expectations in place - employers hire employees with the expectation that they will add value to the company, and employees have expectations towards their employers as well.

'People First' is based on the fact that a company's success is entirely dependent on its PEOPLE. Richard Branson once said, "Business is all about people!".

👍 100% true

Putting People First implies that a leader puts in maximum effort to prioritize their employees and their needs in order to help them reach their full potential, which ultimately contributes to the company's success.

Although it may seem equally focused on obtaining the best visions, ideas, and skills as any other leadership style, employees still benefit from this approach greatly. Why?

In a truly People First environment, the leadership team cares deeply about their employees and values teamwork, genuine connections, and trust. This type of environment encourages creativity, provides clear goals for direction, and leaders listen to the needs of their employees. The result is a healthy workplace culture and a great place to work.

There are misunderstandings around 'People First'

• Leaders who solely focus on people without considering the business objectives adequately may create an enjoyable environment initially, but this approach may eventually jeopardize the company and therefore, its employees

• Self-promoting managers may use "People First" to improve their image, but they may not genuinely care about people. If they keep promoting "People First" and you keep doubting their sincerity, it's a red flag.

Leaders who truly embody 'People First' don't sugarcoat reality, they align expectations with their team and invest in their employees' needs, all while keeping the business objectives in mind. But the key difference lies in their intentions, which come from a good heart. They strive to understand, improve, and empower their team, raising them to new heights without exhausting anyone on the way.

You will see loyalty, people enjoying their work, motivation, and commitment. As a result, business success follows, If you don't see this, there is no real "People First".

If a company has difficulty with culture, digital transformation or change in general, it might want to revisit its guiding principles.