You’ve likely read dozens of articles on how to manage your business, what payroll service to use, and how to take advantage of tax deductions. While these are all important components of keeping your business running efficiently and profitably, I want to take this week’s blog to focus on something equally, if not more, important for your business - your legacy as a leader of your business.

While building a legacy for you and your business sounds like something that has more to do with what happens way off in the future, the key to establishing a legacy worth passing on is to start now, today. It starts with building a values-driven business and leading your business with heart.

This may all sound abstract and touchy-feely, but there is a strong business case for building a legacy of heart-centered leadership that positively impacts your bottom line. If you’re unsure where to start, I suggest looking beyond your personal experiences and putting yourself in the shoes of the people most impacted by your leadership and business; your employees and customers.

Being a business owner requires an enormous amount of hard work, late nights, and mental and physical energy. You pour everything you have into seeing your business grow, but sometimes the lost sleep, deadlines, and intense focus can shadow the passion and care you have for your company from the people who matter most to its success - your employees and customers.

Have you ever walked into a business that appeared to have it all - a beautiful space, attentive staff, lovely products- but left feeling… uneasy? I can name a few experiences like that.

And you likely felt that way because despite that business being a well-oiled machine, it didn’t feel welcoming, warm, or genuine.

You see, the biggest part of the customer experience is what the customer feels, not just what they see or hear when they walk through the door.

Even if your business has a thriving culture that people want to work in and experience, I encourage you to take a few minutes right now to think about your business from a new perspective. Try not to think about the practical side of your business like the way your office is decorated or the policies you have for your employees. Instead, focus on how people feel when they walk through your doors.

• How do you feel when you arrive at your office or login to your computer?
• Are you motivated to be a leader for your team or do you feel overwhelmed, isolated, and tired?
• How do your employees feel when they come to work every morning or when they leave for the day? 
• Is your business a place that energizes your team to do their best work or does it make them feel drained?
• Do your customers feel genuinely welcomed or can they sense that the greeting they receive at the door isn’t really coming from the heart?

The feeling that a client takes home with them after interacting with your company is not only the greatest marketing tool at your disposal but is also the foundation of a business people value and a legacy they’ll remember.

When customers leave your business feeling light, well-served and cared for, they tell others, and they come back. When employees feel like they have a real stake in your company’s success and that you invest emotionally and financially in them, they pay it back in hard work and loyalty and that can’t be gained any other way.

It’s perfectly normal and expected for your business to take a toll on you sometimes both physically and mentally. But if you feel that the energy you’re bringing to your workday is irritable, exhausted, or overly focused on the bottom line, it may be time to get reacquainted with the passion that led you to create your business in the first place. Not only is this important for your own well-being, but it’s also a vital part of your business’s success.

As the business owner, you play a valuable role in both the management of the company and as a leader for your staff. You set the pace, and your company will follow the energy and culture that you set for it. If you feel irritable, tired, or have lost touch with the business you love, the culture of your company is affected.

When you feel rested, motivated, and passionate about your business, your employees will feel empowered by your leadership, and they’ll pass that energy on to your customers and clients. Your customers will know from their interactions with your company that not only do you offer a fantastic service or product, but your employees genuinely care about the customer experience and that your company truly cares about its people.

Our entire practice is based on the knowledge that the relationships we build with our clients and the heart we show them through our services are the most important part of a business. We understand the hard work involved in owning and managing a business and recognize that when your business aligns with your values, your customers feel it. And when customers feel your values and passion, they fuel your business’s success.

If you’re serious about building a business culture that reflects the care and passion you have for your business, meet with us, your Personal Family Lawyer® firm. We can guide you on the legal and financial components your business needs to have in place so you can focus your time and energy on bringing more of your heart to your business, your employees, and your clients. If you aren’t sure how to start the conversation about your business culture with your team, we can help empower you to find your voice as a leader, too.

This article is a service of a Personal Family Lawyer®. We offer a complete spectrum of legal services for businesses and can help you make the wisest choices on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of your death. We also offer a LIFT Start-Up Session™ or a LIFT Audit for an ongoing business, which includes a review of all the legal, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. Call us today to schedule.

The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.

We offer a complete spectrum of legal services for business owners and can help you make the wisest choices on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of your death. We also offer you a LIFT Your Life And Business Planning Session, which includes a review of all the legal, insurance, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. Schedule online today.