Chances are, money is a frequent topic in your organization—the money coming in, the money going out, whether to raise prices, lower them, give raises, hold off, invest in new equipment, or hire another team member.

Hopefully, you’re sharing financials with your team. But just as important as talking about money is explaining why it matters.

Many people filter money—especially money in business—through a negative lens, associating it with greed, power, or materialism. There’s a reason it’s called cold, hard cash—not warm, fuzzy funds.

So here’s where you come in.

Connect the money to the mission. Link the purpose to the profit.

Your organization does not exist to make money.

Really.

You’re in business to fulfill a mission.

The why behind your organization is what fuels pride in the work you do. It’s the driving force behind the products or services you provide. It’s the real reason your organization exists.

But that mission? It’s powerless without money.

Money is energy.

Money is what fuels your purpose. It’s the water that flows into and through your organization, sustaining what you want to grow. Money makes it possible to build, innovate, and serve at a higher level.

This is the relationship your team needs to understand: Money provides energy to fulfill the mission. Fulfilling the mission generates money, which in turn nurtures and expands the mission. They go hand and hand.

Money allows for stability, growth, and impact. It creates freedom, security, ease, and generosity.

This is the message your team needs to hear.

Make sure to share tangible specifics as it relates to your organization. Highlight your mission and share what's possible when there's more financial resources available.

A Final Thought on Language

In this post, we intentionally used the word money instead of profit. We recommend you do the same with your team. Money feels real—visceral. Profit can feel like corporate jargon. But don’t forget to make the connection: Profit is simply the energy available to expand the mission.

For more on workplace culture ROI, compensation conversations, and other money matters in the workplace, check out Culture Works.

Here’s to helping your team understand why money matters!

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