What is your organization? Not what does it do or make or sell, but what is your organization itself. What’s the fundamental element that if taken away would cause your organization – be it a team, non-profit, task force, company, association, church, club, whatever – to cease to exist?

Is it your address? Your building? Your location? No, if you lost all your real estate you could still function in some capacity, especially in today’s hyper-connected world.

Is it your money? Your investments? Your financial assets? No, you can still exist as an entity without turning any profit. Of course, some organizations can do that longer than others.

Is it your ideas? Your proprietary materials? Your core competencies? We’re getting closer, but even when stripped of your differentiating factors, your organization would still exist to think up new stuff.

Is it your people? Your employees? Your members? Yes. I believe humans are the core thing that if taken away would cause your organization to effectively cease to exist.

If people aren’t the core element of your organization, what is?

If people are the core element, what are you doing to develop and protect them?