Back to Basics: The Foundation for a People-Centered Work Culture
Let’s get back to basics. Every so often, we all need a little brush-up to remind
ourselves how to do what we do best. Like reading, these are the fundamentals — the
things the daily grind can wear down.
First things first. As Simon Sinek puts it, “Leaders aren’t responsible for results; they’re
responsible for the people who are responsible for the results.”
At the core, people need three things to thrive: purpose, connection, and progress.
Pretty simple, right? But easy to lose sight of. As a leader, that’s really what you’re after
— a team of people doing what humans do best: collaborating, solving problems, and
enjoying the process. In a tech-heavy world, it’s easy to forget that people still need a
human place to work.
Let’s break it down:
-Purpose: Why does my work matter?
People don’t just think and do — they feel. Without a sense of purpose, even a
great paycheck can start to feel empty. That’s when people start looking for
something more meaningful. Help your team see how their work connects to your
organization’s mission and to the people who benefit from it. That connection
fuels motivation.
-Connection: Do I belong here?
Humans are wired for connection. We work better when we feel part of
something. As a leader, you set the tone — by welcoming ideas, encouraging
questions, and building systems for mentoring and peer support. That’s how
belonging takes root.
-Progress: Am I moving forward?
Growth keeps people energized. Stagnation drains it. Celebrate wins — big and
small. Give feedback that helps people develop, not just perform. And show a
clear path for growth through training and new opportunities.
Recently at work, we begin to talk about if our landscape team wanted to be one of the
best-looking college campuses in America. The answer from the team was, “YES!” It
was a simple question, but in time it will allow us to produce higher quality landscapes.
More on this later.
These basics are simple, but powerful. They’re the foundation of a strong, people-
centered culture. When people feel they matter, they don’t just work harder — they work
happier, smarter, and with more creativity.
Keep going back to the basics,
Jeff
(Back to basics by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free)
