I recently came across an article about a company so deep into democratic values that employees actually elect the CEO. The adoption of democratic principles in business is a growing phenomenon.
But my question isn’t whether your business is run as a democracy.
My question is, would you win re-election if it were?
Have you earned the respect and admiration of your employees by not only what you say, but what you do?
Have you provided them with a workplace that matters to them (and to the success of the enterprise)?
Have you created a culture of respect, based on empathy, that makes people happy to come in to work each day?
Have you lead with a vision that you’ve shared with everyone in the enterprise, in a way that allows each person to see why that vision matters, and what they can do to turn it into a reality?
Indeed, once you act upon these key points, you might consider moving toward a more democratic workplace.
And then, confidently call an election.
