Before we spend another minute asking employees to operate with an enterprise mindset, let us ask ourselves: Have we created the conditions for such an approach to succeed?
Prioritizing the objectives of the business over those of a singular function sounds wonderful in theory. However, when organizations fail to develop collaborative capabilities across the workforce, telling employees to take actions that are a waste of time or damaging to careers is dangerous.
Without the conditions for enterprise thinking:
- Employees will speak up and tell their truth…only to be told their opinion does not matter, they are wrong, or risk being ostracized as the enemy.
- Teams will volunteer their resources for other functions to succeed…only to be penalized with fewer resources in the future or criticism that they did not stay focused.
- Leaders will do what is “right”…only to see bonuses or promotions go to counterparts who played the game better than they did.
The next time someone pleads for a greater enterprise mindset, sincerely applaud them, and ask these questions:
- What does an enterprise mindset look like in action?
- What is stopping employees from operating that way?
- What cultural conditions will enable the behavior we desire?
- How will we equip team members to create these conditions?
Stop the rhetoric of “we need an enterprise mindset.” Instead, focus on doing it.
