Dr. Karthik Ramanan

If you are setting yourself and your business up for an exit strategy, you probably know your "why" (if not, that is a different conversation we need to have). But I want you to stop for a second and ask yourself if you know your employee's "why". You probably never thought about that and that's ok. Let's start here.

Start by trying to understand what they do, how they do it, and why it matters to them. It's important because when people feel connected to their work on that level, they show up differently. Your goals and values become theirs, and they care more about their work and the business. When they feel heard and listened to, they stay engaged, and they grow with you!

That will carry your business forward, even when leadership changes.

Legacy is built when your people see themselves in what you are building.

What do your employees see?

I asked some of my clients recently: What does long-lasting success (and succession) look like for you?

Here are a few of their responses.

"It looks like a leadership team that trusts each other and makes decisions together."

"It looks like going home at the end of the day feeling present with my family and not drained by my work."

"It looks like a team that genuinely enjoys what they do, because the culture they helped build is valued and shared."

"It looks like the next generation stepping into leadership confidently and ready to carry things forward."

"It looks like a company that is known for how it treats people, not just what it produces."

Do any of these hit home for you? If not, what does long-lasting success/succession look like for you?