Universal truth: Ants find spilled potato salad at a picnic at light speed.
Universal truth: A growing firm attracts sludge.
Sludge: Invisible substance that impairs performance and clutters thinking.
It’s discovered in its effect, but seldom seen, like the wind.
This mysterious reality will choke a growing business unless it’s attacked like Kudzu.
How many of its symptoms can you find in your company? Answer yes or no:
- People frequently work on less important tasks.
- Blaming sometimes replaces problem solving.
- We react superbly to problems.
- We’re often surprised by problems.
- We haven’t licked our long-standing problems.
- Departments operate independently, except when they’re forced to cooperate.
- Customer concerns are handled as they arise, instead of proactively.
- Leaders are hands-on to prevent sloppy work.
- We’re having trouble handling more work.
Scoring: (A partial yes is a yes.)
1-2 Yes answers: Leadership is ahead of the sludge.
3-9 Yes answer: The Sludge is winning, and your firm is at risk.
What to do: Accept the need for you and your leaders to change how you lead, now.
Moving away from top-down leadership defies common sense, since it’s gotten you here. Hanging on to it will carry you and your company into the sludge of failure.
© Jim Grew 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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