Loyalty: Growing a Culture Where People Stay

Today I was trying to isolate in my mind my biggest lesson as CEO of two large financial advisory practices. It is well known that authority gets it done. There are all kinds of traditional, authoritative, hierarchal business structures that are widely used and commonly known. But what builds loyalty? Because it seems to me that I hear too many CEO’s today complaining about lack of loyalty. And they tend to blame it on newer generations. I hear statements like, “This is a Gen Z or Millennial issue.”

But as I examine it, I wonder if it is more of a leadership style rather than the structure. And as I look back at my own experience, I was fortunate to have loyalty at every level of my organizations. Our team was composed of people who had been with us for ten, twenty, and even thirty plus years. But why?

Real leadership is not about perfection—it is about progress. It is not about control, but instead about support. And it is not about power; it is about partnership. It is about how you help them grow. It is about the time you spend defending them. It is about the times that you noticed that they were not ok and asked them why and offered to help.

To do this, you need to see the human being first and employee second. You need to give feedback that actually helps them grow, not tear them down. You need to make space for the quietest voice in the group to be heard. It’s about respecting your team members’ boundaries. It is about asking how they are and then truly listening. It is about giving compliments often and publicly. It is about showing appreciation in small ways daily. It is about making it safe to be human at work. It is about lending a hand when a teammate needs help. It is about standing up for your teammates every time. It is about regulating, not reacting. It is not about micromanaging, but allowing the team to perform. It is about making honesty safe. It is about giving tough feedback with love and respect. It is about not taking everything personally. It is about protecting and projecting focus. It is about owning your part when things break. It is about staying calm in the messy moments. It is about not punishing smart risks. It is about respecting different communication styles. It is about being willing to say when you are not ok. It is about building a team that can run without you.

What it boils down to, is everyone is looking for the same thing: someone who is trustworthy competent, courageous, kind, loyal, and principled. That’s it! Leadership is not about being impressive, dominant or authoritative. It is about being the above list. Most people spend a lifetime trying to get someone to like them. The best leaders do the opposite; they become someone worth trusting. And once you do that, you don’t have to chase influence. People attach themselves to it. Call it loyalty if you wish.

This is what happens to your team. They do what they said they would do. They bring solutions not problems. They make the room clearer. After they speak, people understand the issue better. They take ownership fast. They don’t waste energy explaining why something is not their fault. They ask better questions. Not to sound smarter but to get to the issue faster. They care about quality of work even when no one is checking. But they do not mind having someone check it and often request it. They can handle feedback. They don’t collapse; they don’t defend every detail. They use it to improve. They make other people better. The team gets sharper because everyone is in it. Ideas are nice but execution is where the separation happens. And they care about the outcome—not the optics or the title and not to look busy. They are loyal.

The book of Proverbs says whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor. Righteousness is about personal values. A synonym, rectitude is about moral values and the internal compass that guides an individual’s decision and actions. How do you find life and loyalty in an organization? It starts at the top with the CEO. And it guides the decisions and actions of the organization. It is not about the structure of the organization. It is not about lines of authority. It is about kindness, support, caring, helping people grow, and trust.