Guaranteed Formula for Success – The Triple Bottom Line

By Dan Nielsen

March 17, 2011


Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines describes The Triple Bottom Line as follows:

1. “Treat your people right, and good things will happen. When we talk to our people, we proudly draw a pyramid on the chalkboard and tell them: You are at the top of the pyramid. You are the most important person to us. You are our most important customer in terms of priority. Therefore, I am going to spend 80 percent of my time treating you with Golden Rule behavior and trying to make sure that you have an enjoyable work environment where you feel good about what you do, about yourself, and about your position within this company.”

That’s becoming The Employer of Choice!

2. “But if I do that, what I want in exchange is for you to do the same thing by offering our passengers – who are our second customer in terms of priority – the same kind of warmth, caring, and fun spirit. If you do that consistently, our passengers will recognize how significantly different this is from the behavior they witness at other businesses, and they will come back for more.”

That’s becoming The Provider of Choice!

3. “If they come back often enough and become loyal customers, they will tell stories about us to their friends. Then we’ll make money, which keeps your job secure and pleases our third customer in terms of priority, which is our shareholder – thus a win-win for all concerned.”

That’s becoming The Investment of Choice!

Regardless of your industry, organization, position, vocation, location or future aspirations, the following statement (enduring success principle) will always be true!

As you become, and as you maintain the status of Employer of Choice, Provider of Choice, and Investment of Choice, you will enjoy huge and incredible opportunities and advantages, many of which are not available to those who are not becoming or are not maintaining the status of Employer of Choice, Provider of Choice and Investment of Choice!

So what about you? Personally, professionally and organizationally, are you focused on The Triple Bottom Line? Personally, professionally and organizationally, are you focused on Employer of Choice, Provider of Choice and Investment of Choice?

If so, you will also always be an Employee, Colleague and Team Member of Choice!

I suggest you buy and study the recently published book entitled Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success written by Colleen Barrett and Ken Blanchard. Study all sections including The Triple Bottom Line.

What could be more important?

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About the author

Dan Nielsen is the author of the books Be An Inspirational Leader: Engage, Inspire, Empower, and Presidential Leadership: Learning from United States Presidential Libraries & Museums. He regularly writes and speaks on leadership excellence and achieving greater success, and is available to deliver keynotes, lead workshops, or facilitate discussions for your group. LEARN MORE

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