Every business owner would most likely say they care about their team. But not all of them actually prove it in practice.
You can tell a lot about a leader based on what they do once the money starts coming in. Some immediately start upgrading their lifestyle, buying luxury cars, moving into bigger houses, and going on fancy vacations while doing nothing to upgrade their business or make their team’s lives easier.
I remember visiting a firm years ago, which I will not name. The parking lot of the office building was sporting a fancy Lamborghini. The CEO’s office was decked out in the most modern, sleek, state-of-the-art furniture and technology. Meanwhile, the general office looked horrible: old computers, broken furniture, stains on the carpet. So much was neglected that the team looked like they were working in an office from a few decades ago.
It was so clear that the leader put a lot of money into making his environment and life the best it could be, but he didn’t care about the conditions his team was operating under. The message was clear: “I come first. They get what’s left.” That disgusted me.
This is one of the fastest and most surefire ways to destroy trust in an organization.
There is nothing wrong with success, making money, and buying nice things for yourself to celebrate. But my philosophy is that if you’re building a business with a team of people who are investing their time, energy, and careers into helping you execute your vision, your responsibility is to make sure they’re taken care of first.
This means:
- Giving them the resources they need to succeed
- Building an infrastructure that will set them up in optimal working conditions
- Making sure they have proper tools, proper support, proper systems, proper training, and an environment that reflects the standards you claim to represent.
Even if that means you drive an old, regular car and don’t buy a bigger house for years to come.
You can’t claim to be a world-class firm if your team is working on broken equipment in a neglected office.
A lot of leaders want the appearance of success more than they want to actually build something successful.
But if you prioritize your own lifestyle too early, you stunt the business’s growth. Plus, when your team notices (and they always do), they’ll likely become resentful, giving you nothing but their bare minimum, jumping ship as soon as they can.
The best leaders I know take care of the business first, then the team, and after all of that, themselves. Believe it or not, those are usually the people who end up building the most successful organizations that give them that “fancy” lifestyle anyway.
This is because when your team feels supported, equipped, and valued, they perform differently. They care more and execute harder, buying into the vision you’re pitching and helping you bring it to life.
A crucial part of leadership is creating an environment where everyone can win together.
So before you buy the next flashy symbol of success, ask yourself a simple question: “Does my team have everything they need to succeed?”
If the answer is no and you make the purchase anyway, you’re just exposing your priorities.
