Words of wisdom for this week.
“Security is a superstition, it does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.”
~ Helen Keller
Playing Ostrich lately? This could also be known as – having your head stuck in the sand.
Question: What is the biggest operational challenge in managing a company or even a department?
Answer: A major nationwide study has shown that over 50% of the working population is not engaged in their work. Therefore, the biggest operational challenge is building a high-performance, fully-engaged workforce.
The labor force is changing, and many individuals in the workforce are less motivated, want less responsibility, are less educated and are widely diverse in age, background, nationality and lifestyle. Building a high-performance and fully-engaged workforce means an organization must analyze and prepare a plan to attract and retain the best employees who will become engaged and deliver consistent results. Engaged employees are excited and enthusiastic about their roles and responsibilities.
They resist distractions, are not clock watchers and routinely produce significantly more than the job requires. They enjoy searching for ways to improve circumstances and they volunteer for difficult assignments. They also encourage others to higher levels of performance. Finally, they are proud to be involved with their organization and are more likely to stay with the company. They give you the labor of their hearts, not just their hands and minds.
Question: How will your business look in five years?
Answer: Changed! Can’t predict it, understand it or often know how to prepare for or anticipate it. And yet, if you are not ready for change, it could be to your demise. Are you spending adequate time planning and thinking or just reacting and stressing? Are you getting adequate and timely bottom-up information from employees and suppliers to help you gauge the direction of your industry and business? Are you regularly meeting with members of your management team to discuss strategies, plans, tactics, challenges, opportunities and outcomes? No to all of the above? Shame on you. If not, please don’t tell me when your business goes up in flames that it’s due to the economy, your competitors or your fickle customers.
Question: If you knew then what you know now, would you have done things differently?
Answer: If you are like me, the results we often anticipate or want are almost always unpredictable: I would have done things differently if I had known. But beware: No one – and I mean, NO ONE – can know for sure, in advance, how decisions or actions will turn out. But this shouldn’t be a reason not to make decisions and act.
Question: Are you open and receptive to change, growth and transforming your business or are you stuck in the past?
Answer: Got some inventory that’s collecting dust? Got some employees who are just coasting? Got some customers that are eating your lunch? Maybe it’s time for some new behaviors, beliefs, mind-sets or decisions. If you are not willing to let go of the past –the good old days or the bad old days, whichever is appropriate – then you are guaranteed to spend many more stressful hours trying to survive.