Think of something that belongs to you or a family member that holds a lot of sentimental value. Maybe it’s an heirloom, like jewelry, clothes, family recipes, or handwritten letters. Maybe you inherited something of value, like a multi-generational home or an antique car. Maybe it’s the stories your relatives told you over and over that encompass your family’s history. Whatever it was, as soon as it fell under your care, the time and mental energy you spent to ensure it was well looked after and ready to be passed down again became your commitment as its steward or owner.
When someone has an ownership mentality to preserve and maintain something important to them, it means they take extra steps to look after it. That’s why it’s often said that “nobody cares like an owner”.
Of course, thinking and acting like an owner is a big part of what helps employee-owned companies like Central States stand out. Research has shown the people who work at an employee-owned company will often go the extra mile to make sure their operations are running smoothly, and customers are raving fans, or the community they’re a part of feels well-served by the jobs and services they provide.
Why do employee-owners care more? Not only is there the pride of ownership, but when every employee has an ownership stake, there is a direct financial link between the company’s success and their individual success. With this alignment of incentives, employee-owners that buy into thinking like an owner and collectively building an ownership culture can drive improvement in the company’s performance and thus benefit themselves.
For example, team members can shift from seeing a new coworker’s onboarding process as primarily the responsibility of management, to understanding how their own expertise can better-prepare a new colleague for their role. Where a customer previously might have only mattered between a team member and their supervisor, employee-owners understand that retaining and expanding their company’s business can impact the company’s share price—and ultimately their account balances—which can motivate them to play a more collaborative role in delivering high-quality service.
At the end of the day, employee-owners that embrace a sense of ownership and are comfortable wearing their “owners” hats care deeply about playing an active role in shaping the future success of their company.
If you aren’t currently one of our employee-owners who make a difference every day – check out our Careers page and see what positions are open to begin your new adventure.
