What companies should value

In my reading today of "The 5 Levels of Leadership" by John Maxwell, I found it very interesting that he states the following:  Most of what an organization possesses goes down in value.  Facilities deteriorate.  Equipment becomes out of date. Supplies get used up.  What asset has the greatest potential for actually going up in value?  People!  But only if they are valued, challenged, and developed by someone capable of investing in them and helping them grow.  Otherwise, they are like money put on deposit without interest.  Their potential is high, but they aren't actually growing.

I just spent the last four days in meetings with people, a company, that are actually doing what John Maxwell talks about and is investing in people, challenging people and helping them grow.  How refreshing it is to know that these people actually care enough about others and want them to succeed.

How do you make an organization better?  Invest in people who work in it.  Companies get better when their people get better.  That's why investing in people always gives a greater return to an organization. 

If you invest in people they will never be the same again.  And neither will you.  It is impossible to help others without helping yourself.

Mr. Maxwell writes a small section on Translating Personal Productivity into Leadership.  If you turn your focus outward from your own production as a leader you will begin helping others to become high producers like yourself.