What Got You Here….
…Won’t Take You There! If your organization is growing, or you want it to, it’s essential to adapt your capabilities on three levels. The same people doing the same things, in the same ways, will swiftly reach a choke point on growth. To get “there” requires that you:
- Develop People. Beyond the fundamental requirement to recruit talented people, who are aligned with the organization’s values, investing in their development is a catalyst for growth. As they grow, so will organizational capacity and strength. Left to their own devices, some people will figure it out on their own; it’s a much safer bet to train your people. Training should transcend product and service, which are the table stakes of playing the game, by helping team members to communicate more effectively and work collaboratively. The twin benefit to practical training is improved morale and employee engagement.
- Refine Processes. Just because “we’ve always done it that way”doesn’t mean it will work at scale. Processes tend to develop only as far as the organization stresses them; often “tribal knowledge”, visual oversight and “show and tell” become proxies for process. Growth requires organizations to be more efficient and effective at getting things done. Re-examining the way work is accomplished will pay huge dividends for growth. I’ll always recall the words of a trainer in “LEAN” Principles when he advised to “Be hard on the process and easy on the people.”
- Share Better Information. The steady flow of accurate and timely information is like blood to the body; you can’t sustain an organization or life without it. Information-sharing should begin with a meaningful orientation of new team members and continue daily in specific and thoughtful ways. Information regarding Values, Purpose, Products & Services is essential; so is information regarding the performance and vital signs of the organization. Growing organizations must achieve crystal clarity regarding key metrics and then “measure what matters”.
These three elements are inter-dependent. When they progress in balance with one another, the potential for growth exists. If you make a conscious “decision to grow“, next focus on what will get you there.
Enjoy the Journey!
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