Business as a series of relationships
Our view of people as a someone not a something challenges businesses to consider if it uses people merely as a means to achieve business objectives. To be truly purpose-led we believe business needs to see a shift from a transactional to a relational understanding of organisations, where the quality of relationships internally and externally matters and guides decision making.
As writer and economist John Kay, argues, businesses lose out when they take a narrow view that the company is just an empty shell – a nexus of contracts between self-interested individuals. Different possibilities arise when instead it is recognised for what it is – a social organisation, a series of relationships, ideally characterised by respect for the dignity of people and co-creation, where people are moved to commit to a shared worthwhile endeavour. See section The starting point: each person is a someone not a something for what it looks like to respect someone’s dignity.
The power of purpose to inspire and motivate people can only be realised if the business sees itself as a series of relationships in which each person matters. The benefits that then flow help create a better business – in terms of performance, engagement, and better quality relationships with customers, suppliers and communities.
The way work is organised creates the possibilities for those working in the business to grow, or not. The relationships that businesses have with investors, suppliers, customers, governments and civil society can support the growth and development of others, or not. The kind of products and services we offer can do so too.
Blueprint’s Five Principles are a picture of what a purpose-led business might look like and represent business as a series of dynamic relationships rooted in dignity which together contribute to the long term success of the business. For an exploration of what being purpose-led looks like in each of these relationships see: Understanding the Blueprint Principles
How a business thinks about what motivates people shapes how it acts
Adopting a more realistic view of people is essential to creating a purpose-led business, and indeed to help advance the common good of society more broadly.
Few ideas have as much power to shape the world as our view of other people. Because ultimately, you get what you expect to get. If we want to tackle the greatest challenges of our times – from the climate crisis to our growing distrust of one another – then I think the place we need to start is our view of human nature.
Rutger Bregman, Humankind, A hopeful history
How a business thinks about people – how much people matter (both individually or as groups) and what is assumed to motivate them – will be revealed through the business’s processes, structures and practices including performance and reward systems, as well as the quality of its relationships both internally and externally. This is explored more fully in: Bringing purpose to life – Culture
Recognising the relational aspects of our humanity, and desires for meaning, mastery and autonomy, a purpose-led business starts from a place of respect for the dignity of people. This in turn is a powerful motivator. The critical point here, however, is that a purpose-led business will not do this in an instrumental way just because it sees the potential for higher profits from more motivated employees or stronger external relationships, but because it sees that people matter, and that the dignity of people and the quality of their relationships has intrinsic value to the business, bringing vitality, creativity, and the potential to bring benefit both to the business and wider society.