Why Investing Time With and In Your People Is the Smartest (and Most Cost-Effective) Upgrade You’ll Ever Make
By Marcus Clifford | Boosterologist, Coach & Facilitator of Change
We’re all used to investing in the latest tech — faster systems, smarter tools, digital workflows. But while those upgrades matter, they only deliver their full return when they’re powered by something far more vital: Your people.
Motivated, purposeful individuals — and connected, aligned teams — are the real engine behind value creation. They bring innovation to life. Yet too often, organisations pour budget into hardware and platforms while overlooking the one factor that brings it all together: The Human Element.
Everyone nods along when we say, “People are our greatest asset.” But how often is that belief fully embedded into strategy or decision-making?
I have been reviewing some familiar tools that are great for teams and individuals
Investing in people. Here’s the Reality:
If you don’t develop the people expected to use, adapt to, and sustain change…you’ll never realise the full value of your investments.
When businesses truly invest in people — not just in skills, but in self-awareness, behavioural intelligence, team dynamics, and purpose — the ROI is remarkable. Because people don’t just want to work. They want to grow, to belong, to contribute to something that matters.
KPIs — A Better Lens on What Really Drives People
I recently came across a refreshing take on KPIs — not Key Performance Indicators, but what it means to Keep People truly engaged and empowered. I’ve expanded the idea to include additional dimensions that fuel a human-centred focus.
These are the hidden drivers behind performance, retention, and culture. They’re simple to adopt — and once in place, they build powerful momentum.
1. Keep People Interested
→ Engage minds, not just hands
→ Connect work to meaningful outcomes
→ Create opportunities to learn, stretch, and grow
2. Keep People Informed
→ Share the “why,” not just the “what”
→ Open up visibility, not just meeting invites
→ Communicate with honesty and clarity
3. Keep People Involved
→ Give them a say in the things that affect them
→ Involve them in shaping change
→ Celebrate wins they helped deliver
4. Keep People Inspired
→ Trust them to lead and own
→ Make space for creativity and initiative
→ Lead with heart and purpose
My KPI Extensions: Fuel for a Thriving Culture
5. Keep People Included
→ Make belonging real, not just a buzzword
→ Invite and amplify diverse perspectives
→ Build systems where everyone has a voice
6. Keep People Invested
→ Show how their work makes a difference
→ Align strengths with goals
→ Recognise effort and impact regularly
7. Keep People Intentional
→ Encourage self-awareness and reflection
→ Promote conscious, values-led behaviours
→ Help people act with purpose, not just urgency
8. Keep People in Flow
→ Match challenge with capability
→ Design roles around strengths
→ Reduce friction and energy drains
Call me to discuss enabling this in your business
Investing in people: The ROI of Whole-Person and Team Development
Yes, training matters. But the true returns come when you develop the whole person, not just the job function.
🧠 Companies with comprehensive training programs report 218% higher income per employee
💡 They also enjoy a 24% higher profit margin compared to those who don’t invest in learning
❤️ 94% of employees say they’d stay longer if their company invested in their development
🔄 Poor training? 40% will leave within a year
📈 Right investment boosts productivity by 37% and engagement by 47%
🎓 Only 10% of workplace learning happens in a classroom — the rest is experiential and relational
(Source: ATD, LinkedIn, IBM, Gallup, Go2HR)
This is why tools like PRISM Brain Mapping, Team Charters, and Co-Created Value Propositions amongst others,provide a solution to start the people investment journey. They bring clarity, collaboration, and capability to the surface — helping teams communicate better, work better, and Be better.
Look at Your Team Tomorrow Morning. That’s Your Real Dashboard.
Ask yourself:
→ Are they just doing the work, or do they look energised and aligned?
→ Are you growing your business, or just maintaining it?
→ Do your people feel stretched, seen, and supported — or just scheduled?
If your team doesn’t feel connected, purposeful, or empowered… that’s where your next upgrade needs to begin. If you’re partway through an investment programme, going to start one or are going through one, but not realising the gains you thought, call me.
Let’s talk about how a Workshop, Diagnostic session, or Tailored team journey could unlock the untapped potential right in front of you.
Because in a changing world, it’s not only the systems, not only the strategy, but the People who carry the business forward.
Interested in exploring what investing in people could look like for you? Let’s have a conversation. Your people are ready — are you?
Print Sector Business Coach, Positive Psychology Coach & Consultant
📞 0774 381 8806 | 📧 Marcus@printboosterologist.solutions