So, I didn’t come up with this diagram. I’ve borrowed the idea. Unfortunately, I don’t remember who originally came up with the concept. However, the idea is sound. And true.
Starting at the top, if the owner takes care of the employees, the employees will take care of the customers. In turn, the customers will take care of the company, and the company will take care of the owner.
Occasionally, what happens is that the owner will just take care of the customers or the company, effectively turning his back on the employees. Often, this happens because the owner doesn’t (or most likely won’t) trust his team. There is no quicker way to disenfranchise your employees than to turn your back on them.
If you don’t trust your team, and if you’re being honest, that means you really don’t trust yourself. Otherwise you would trust your ability to put a great team together. You would be able to delegate responsibilities knowing they’d be managed effectively. Your focus would stay on managing, mentoring, building, growing and, more importantly, leading your team.
Focus on building a company that follows this cycle and you’ll create a happier team, a happier company, and happier customers.