Sound familiar? I hear this question at least once a week! I suggest, if you want your employees to really buy in to your prices, show them where the money goes. Open your books. Teach them how the business works.

My wise suggestion is often rejected.

Typical responses include, "If they knew how bad the numbers were, they would all leave," "Frankly, I don't know how to read the financial statements myself," and "It's none of their business how much money I make!"

Do it anyway. If your financial situation is bad, your employees know something is wrong. Their speculation will be much worse than knowing the truth. If you are not comfortable with financial data, you all can learn together. If you don't want to lay open your paycheck, you can ease into "open-book" management by sharing some financial data now, and granting more access later.

Make a game of it!

I've had the pleasure of meeting some folks who play the game very well. I attended a terrific seminar at the Springfield Remanufacturing Co. (SRC) in Springfield, Mo.

The Great Game of Business

Jack decided that there must be a saner way to run a business than the my-way-or-highway management philosophy that was sinking International Harvester. Faced with laying off the remaining 119 employees, Jack and a dozen other managers came up with a plan to buy their division of the company.

Jack didn't really know much about business at the time. As they went from bank to bank seeking a loan (21 banks in all), he learned how to interpret the financial statements. Their numbers were horrible. By some error, I imagine, the 21st bank loaned the company $89 million with collateral of $100,000, borrowed from friends and relatives. Springfield Remanufacturing Co. was in business.

Because of their fragile financial position, the owners couldn't afford to be late on one payment or they would lose the company. Jack had no idea how he was going to pull it off. So, he turned to the employees and said, "We need to generate enough cash and profits to stay afloat. I don't know how to do it. Here are the financial statements. This is how we keep track of what's going on. I need your help!"

Every employee learned the financial side of the business. They made the connection that what they did at each workstation impacted some number on the income statement or balance sheet. The employees saved the day. They took responsibility for the turnaround of the plant and pulled it off.

As the employees learned the game of business, they became eager to play bigger, more interesting games. Today SRC is comprised of 23 diversified companies, one of which produces the terrific seminar I attended explaining their take on open-book management. The focus is not on manufacturing; it is about doing business in an open, cooperative, creative, responsible way.

The success of SRC makes a great story. So Jack Stack wrote a book, The Great Game of Business. It outlines the system that evolved at SRC. It is not an instant or exact formula. At the Great Game Seminar, several SRC managers explained the four basic components.

No. 1: Know and Teach the Rules

The balance sheet and the income statement are the principal scorecards. Don't feel bad if you don't really understand these reports. Jack claims a huge majority of the business population is financially illiterate. (Frank Blau says that more than 90 percent of the people who attend his seminars can't correctly compute a selling price!) But you can learn, and share your knowledge with your employees as you go. At SRC, 30 percent of every new employee's time is spent learning the financial aspect of the business. Everybody plays the game.

By creating, analyzing and communicating the financial statements, you can find the numbers that really indicate the condition of the company. By setting targets for these critical numbers, you lay out the rules of the game. (In your company, consider starting with the gross margin.)

Do you see that if your employees have a stake in the process of determining the critical numbers and setting the goals, they commit themselves to winning the game? Are you getting a glimpse of how cool this can be?

No. 2: Follow the Action and Keep Score

At SRC, there is a person responsible for every line on the financial statements. The numbers aren't cold, nasty, unrelated facts. One number may indicate that Suzy in accounts receivable is struggling with collections. The group can offer suggestions - improve C.O.D. procedures, quit selling to deadbeats, etc.

I used to think it was cool to get financial data within 10 days of the next month. SRC employees report mid-month figures. They can nip a problem before the month ends.

The financial statements provide the agenda for the meeting. As you go through each item on the income statement and balance sheet, you check in with each department, see what's happening and decide on a course of action.

No. 3: Provide a Stake in the Outcome

It's important to have a company-wide critical number goal. But be careful to reward individual performance as well. Often one outstanding employee is pulling the whole company along while the boss boasts about teamwork. People who contribute more should get more. Every position in the company can be tied to an incentive-based compensation plan.

SRC has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This is a very hip way to tie compensation to the company's performance. Dish out stock to the owner-employees as a bonus for hitting the marks. Stock bonuses don't require immediate cash disbursement. But they are only worth something if the company improves in value by creating solid earnings. This is the ultimate buy-in.

No. 4: You Gotta Wanna!

As you play the game, your techs and the rest of the team will help you develop the selling price, using their keen knowledge of your company's financial data. They may even suggest a raise for you!

Your employees can win the game and make your company successful. You don't have to do it all by yourself. How wonderful to share in the success. Jack says the ultimate higher law in business can be summed up this way: "When you appeal to the highest level of thinking, you get the highest level of performance." Good stuff!

Some parting words:

• It takes time and relentless training to really play the game.

• The process builds trust - in the process, and in each other.

• Visit the Great Game Web site (www. greatgame.com) for more information.

• Buy and read the book The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack.

Remember Monopoly? You love playing it. But, it's no fun if you play all by yourself. Invite everyone to play and create a wonderful game with your business.