Doing good, is good business.
~ from "The Stewardship Advantage..."
What is...
STEWARDSHIP?
It means...
Supporting your Stakeholders
Increasing your Earnings
Crafting a Legacy
Improving the World
Developing Leadership & Strength
Finding "Your Extra"
Stewardship is a powerful, practical approach to helping others help you and your small business. Sharing your resources and strongly, purposefully, supporting all of your stakeholders will help you change the world around you. And that is just a small part of the stewardship advantage!
Why should you care?
Being a good steward will make your small business stronger and more valuable.
Stewardship is local. It is personal. It positively affects the community you live in, the customers you serve, the employees who support you, and the environment around all of us.
Most people want to be a part of something greater than themselves.
Treat your stakeholders well and it will come back to you in ways you can't even imagine!
At a certain point in life, we all ask: What does it mean? Why am I doing this? Stewardship can provide the answers, and the sooner, the better.
The positive effects of this approach ripple outwards.
An analogy to better explain stewardship
Tier 1
Internal Stakeholders
Imagine your small business is like a family home:
- Owners are like the parents or guardians of the home. They’re responsible for its long-term well-being—ensuring financial stability, maintaining the space, and planning for the future. They are responsible for keeping the home structurally sound for today’s needs and tomorrow’s generations.
- Managers/Officers are like the household coordinators—those who manage the daily logistics, schedules, and responsibilities. They help translate the owners’ long-term vision into daily action, ensuring that the home runs smoothly, decisions are made thoughtfully, and everyone’s contributions are aligned.
- Employees are like the members of the household. They contribute to daily life—the energy, upkeep, and culture of the home. A good steward ensures every household member feels safe, supported, and equipped to contribute meaningfully to the home’s success.
- The Business/Entity is the structure itself—the foundation, walls, roof, plumbing, and systems. If this framework is weak or neglected, everything else inside is at risk. It’s the legal and operational structure that holds everything together and allows it all to function.
Tier 2
External Stakeholders
Once your house is in good order, you can focus on being a good, or better, neighbor in the wider community.
- Customers are like visitors or guests who come to your home. They rely on you for comfort, consistency, and a positive experience. A good host anticipates their needs, exceeds expectations, and welcomes them with care and respect. Such customers tend to come back often.
- Suppliers are like the service providers who help keep your household running—grocers, utility workers, plumbers, delivery drivers. Reliable relationships with these partners are essential for a smooth and resilient household. The same goes for your business.
- Community is your broader neighborhood—the people, organizations, and culture that surround your home. Good stewardship means contributing to that community’s health—supporting events, helping neighbors, and being present in ways that strengthen collective well-being. The community as a stakeholder may represent hundreds—or even thousands—of individual lives.
- The Environment is the shared air, water, land, and resources that affect all homes. A good steward is mindful of environmental impact—not just to protect their own home, but to safeguard the health of the entire neighborhood, city, and ultimately the planet. This is the broadest circle of responsibility, and it touches all 8.1 billion of us, “because there is no Planet B” as the good folks at ECOALF, in Madrid (in our Stewardship Gallery), wisely tell us.
Before you can be a good neighbor and a contributing member of the community, you need to get your own house (i.e., your small business) in order. You need to ensure the foundation and walls are solid, the roof isn’t leaking, all the bills are paid, and everyone within the household is functioning and interacting well. If your own house is chaotic or falling apart, or your team members are not dependable or aligned with your goals, you won’t be in a good position to help or engage well in the wider neighborhood.
This analogy also highlights that a well-maintained home or business can continue to serve its inhabitants and be a positive presence in the neighborhood for many years, even for generations to come. Good stewardship ensures the longevity of both the house and its positive impact on the neighborhood and surrounding community.
Want to learn more?
It's all in my latest book
