By Adam Saks

Adam Saks

Why does a business that seems to be set for success fail?

The answer is people – the No. 1 undervalued asset that every business has. Today’s business environment is ever-changing. Millennials are the up-and-coming demographic that everyone is competing for. Millennials today are less concerned about your business plan and are more interested in your core values and mission statement. At the same time, when you look at some of the most successful companies of today, they share a common core – strong leaders with great vision who preach culture over economics.

So, how do you function as a great leader and grow any organization’s most precious asset? The human resources portion of running a business is always going to be the hardest thing. I would offer this as perhaps a basic lesson, a guiding principle, if you can hold yourself to, it will at least set the stage for success – make every decision what is best for the business.

When you’re the leader of an organization, large or small, you are going to have different people with ideas, needs and strategies. Truly making others feel like you will listen and evaluate can be a great force for good. But making the best decision for the business is not always that easy. It takes careful consideration and ensuring you have all the facts. Many times, leaders can let their own personal wants or those of particular people guide their decisions. Ensuring you’re not playing favorites and you are taking responsibility yourself are some of the strongest attributions of a leader.

At the same time you are trying to make the best decisions you can, you have to develop a strong set of core values to guide you. Mission statements, vision statements and core values allow you to focus on desired outcomes and hopefully guide those working with you. These values and expectations are what are going to create your culture.

People want to feel good about their jobs, they want to be appreciated and hopefully enjoy coming to work. You can only develop that through an environment of inclusion and teamwork where people feel valued and their ideas are appreciated. This may all sound routine as one reads, but I can tell you from seeing many different companies, it can be very difficult to achieve.

So. how to start. I believe it comes from an honest look in the mirror. Great leaders are not afraid of the tough questions and honest feedback. Meet with your team and ask open questions and then just listen. Not every idea will be great, not every request can be approved. But taking the time, looking at the strengths and opportunities you have, can help create that initial road map. From there, let a humble approach, a kind word and a strong presence guide your team.

Adam Saks is general manager of UltraStar Multi-tainment Center.

This column appears in the October issue of InMaricopa.

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