Value grows from doing things that matter.
The human soul is driven largely by its quest for meaning; it’s a big part of what makes us tick. When we “throw our heart and soul” into the work of an organization, we do so for reasons that go well beyond simple financial considerations. The organizations that understand how to engage us at that level are able to move mountains.
This kind of soulful connection to our work generates a deep sense of ownership and accountability for what we do. Soulful companies purposefully extend this meaning and accountability to employees, customers, partners, investors and other important stakeholders. In so doing, they create a community of shared meaning; one that builds tremendous economic and social value.
Featured Articles on Creating Value, Meaning and Accountability:
The Divine Right of Capital
The Divine Right of Capital, by Marjorie Kelly is one of those mind-opening books that deserves to be read by a large audience. It represents a dramatic rethink of the corporation and asks some very hard questions about the nature of capitalism as we practice today. In this post, I summarize each chapter with the permission of the author, in the hope you’ll go out an read this important book.
Fairness
It is time to find a richer understanding of fairness; one that incorporates both its libertarian and egalitarian sensibilities. The dynamics of libertarian and egalitarian fairness are what built this country. It is what made us great – and it is one of the keys to returning us to that greatness.
“Thick Value” Looks Like a Carpet to Me
When companies deliver goods and services that truly leave the world better off, that’s “thick value.” That means creating real economic value; not simply capturing it from customers or suppliers, but genuinely making everyone better off.
Latest Articles on Creating Value, Meaning and Accountability:
- Creating Business Value Stop for a moment and think of something you own that you really value.
- Social Impact Strategy and Business Social impact strategy aligns societal and business objectives, creating enormous brand value in the process.
- Defining What Social Means in Business The Battle to Define “Social Business”: A David and Goliath Story.
- Announcing The Vital Edge! Welcome to my new website, and the “disruptively good business” of The Vital Edge.
- Week in Review: May 21, 2012 Seven ideas on meaningful work, myth, mobile computing, philanthropy, and networks.
- Soulful Work – My Interview with Big Life An interview with Shelly Immel from Big Life, where she helps me cut to the essence of my work on making business a better force for good in the world.
- When Organizational Goals Clash with Social Change Goals This morning I received an online petition to support changes to US fuel efficiency standards, and the reasons I didn’t sign it say a lot about the problems of the social change sector today.
Working Spiderman image by Eneas. Thank you.
