Page 58 - How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win

THE MAKING OF ABUNDANCE

problems while investing in corporate citizenship. To man-
age scarce resources and rebuild organization reputations,
many leaders have begun to pay attention to a “triple bot-
tom line” of people (values and reputation), profits (financial
return), and planet (e.g., carbon footprint). Environmental
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activists help corporations audit their carbon footprints
and reduce energy consumption. Other organizations
demonstrate a caring heart as they invest in philanthropic
initiatives. These citizenship efforts underscore values of
stewardship and accountability that help employees see how
their personal values align with corporate values to make a
real difference in the real world.
Just as the bank had to balance profit, purpose, and
people, leaders in the abundant organization focus on sus-
tainable profit as well as environmental sustainability. An
organization that emphasizes social contribution without
facing the economic realities of creating value for custom-
ers and investors will not survive. While bankruptcy will
certainly reduce an organization’s carbon footprint, it will
also eliminate its ability to employ workers, make useful
products, offer customers innovative solutions, and build
communities.

PRINCIPLE 2
Abundant organizations have purposes that sustain both social
and fiscal responsibility and align individual motivation.

3. Whom Do I Travel With? (Relationships
and Teamwork [Th]at Work)

Our sense of abundance is enhanced by meaningful rela-
tionships. The increasing complexities of today’s workplaces

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