In today’s fast-paced business environment where digital tools and complex strategies are one click away, competition is starker than ever. Companies rise and fall like never before. As they grow, so do their challenges—if not managed properly.
One of these challenges is the ever-expanding hierarchy in many businesses which increases the gap between leadership and people. This scenario, common in many organizations and industries, creates an iceberg-like structure, preventing leadership from having a much-needed transparent overview of strategy execution and focusing on the tip of the iceberg instead.
At the same time, employees face a substantial portion of existing issues without proper guidance. They feel neither seen nor heard and become demotivated. This leads to a failing strategy execution.
That’s why people are central to how well your business performs—they can be your main competitive advantage, the ace up your sleeve. It’s the core belief that we centered the Art of Acceleration (AOA) methodology around, one that we’ve put to practice in the past decade.
What is a people-centric approach?
A people or employee-centric approach places a central emphasis on the potential of individuals within an organization or business. It recognizes that every team member brings unique strengths, skills and insights to the table. People are seen as an essential element of a business and imperative to its success. Such organizations place a lot of important to people’s well-being and development.
By contrast, a business or task-oriented approach focuses on processes and outputs. It prioritizes achieving goals and managing KPIs, which often leads to employees being kept in the dark when it comes to essential information pushing them over their limits.
The problems arising from not taking a people-centric approach stem from our intrinsic human nature. The fusion of basic human behaviors with today’s fast-paced, interconnected and real-time business environment presents a great challenge for building and sustaining successful businesses. There are six basic human behaviors that shape this challenge:
Ultimately, we’re all human. In our journey to success, our imperfections create a dynamic and challenging experience. And the larger the company, the greater the complexity.
What are the benefits of a people-centric approach?
There are myriad benefits of using a people-oriented approach in your business—from fostering intrinsic motivation and enhancing team performance to establishing transparent communication in your workplace. Choosing a people-centric approach is more than a cultural shift. It’s a strategic evolution that propels your team to new levels of performance, success and accomplishment.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of a putting people first in a business:
- Intrinsic motivation. What often makes the difference between average and exceptional performance at the workplace is intrinsic motivation. A people-centric approach makes people feel seen and valuable. By empowering individuals in their work, intrinsic motivation becomes a powerful force.
- Enhanced team performance. When your organization listens to its people and appreciates their input, it creates an environment where every team member is motivated and committed to the company’s strategy. This collective alignment propels overall team performance to new heights.
- Transparent communication. A company that cares about its people often places a lot of importance on sharing knowledge and feedback freely. Open and honest communication ensures that every team member is aware of the company’s direction, leading to a shared understanding of objectives. This leads us to:
- Shared strategic alignment. A shift from a top-down approach to a more bottom-up framework like those usually found in people-centric cultures ensures that everyone in the organization is committed to common goals. This shared commitment activates the collective power of the team toward achieving strategic objectives.
- Empowering decision-making. Instead of relying solely on executive level decision-makers, every employee becomes a valuable contributor to the success of the organization when their voices are not only heard but truly encouraged.
- Excellent strategy execution. A people-centric approach ultimately brings a lot of strategic clarity across all levels. This ensures that individuals can see their role in the larger context, activating their commitment to achieving shared goals. Only when everyone’s potential is activated can your strategy execution reach excellence.
How do you build a people-centric performance culture?
Building a people-centric culture involves fostering an environment where individuals are valued, empowered and engaged. It’s more than giving people fun perks like free pizza and an in-office ping pong table. It takes leading by example and implementing people-centric concepts at all levels of the organization.
Communication and strategic alignment are essential. Regularly share your organizational goals, successes and challenges. Encourage feedback and ensure that information flows freely. This includes the decision-making process, too. Give your employees a sense of ownership and autonomy in their roles. When it comes to teamwork, encouraging shared goals and mutual support creates a sense of community.
Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight. Building a people-centric culture is an ongoing process that requires commitment and consistency. It involves creating an environment where individuals feel valued, supported and inspired to contribute their best to the organization. Do this and your efforts will pay off tenfold.
The first people-centric methodology for strategy execution
The Art of Acceleration (AOA) methodology sees people as a fundamental factor in the success of your strategy execution. AOA is aimed at all companies dealing with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), and who are looking for solutions that will boost their business success or fulfill their international growth potential by enhancing their strategy execution excellence.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your team and accelerate your business success? Say goodbye to traditional frameworks that fall short, and hello to the transformative approach of AOA.