Business is complex and that complexity demands big solutions. Yet, in many cases, in the quest to find a quick solution, some management teams may use an elephant gun when a fly swatter would work even better.
Elephant guns range from the big change management initiatives to the many training and development solutions to the quality programs such as lean to six sigma. These guns shoot out round after round of new knowledge and skills all in the attempt to solve the current challenges. Yet, if the elephant guns were effective, then why are the same change challenges returning? Why for example does it take up to 7 years to integrate a total quality management system? Could the aim have missed the fly?
Flies are the attitudes and habits that swarm around the culture of every organization. They quick swarm together to give the impression of a significant problem, but in a blink of an eye they can disappear. By the time the elephant gun is loaded and fired, the fly is gone leaving three large holes.
- Hole one is missing the problem such as training and development or quality programs.
- Hole two is the drain to the cash box.
- Hole three creates another entry for more flies to enter the organization.
For years, companies have focused their energies and resources on the knowledge and skills necessary for business success. Knowledge and skills are the big elephants and suggest the use of elephant guns through training and development programs. However, the attitudes and habits residing within each and every individual are the real leverage to business success or to business failure. These small flies can bring down the very best companies. Common sense suggests that elephant guns are not effective in killing flies.
When the focus changes to the fly, then the tool to catch the fly also changes. By identifying the fly or flies, a more effective solution can be crafted to deal with the pending change issue. And in many instances, this stops the constant drain to the cash box.
So if you are experiencing some negative change and begin to reach for that elephant gun, maybe you should separate the elephants from the flies and reach for the closet fly swatter.
Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. is a business coach and executive coach with offices in Indianapolis and near Chicago. She writes, speaks and coaches people in businesses to quickly double or triple results through the creation of executable strategic plans along with the necessary leadership skills “to pull it off.”
One quick question,if you could secure one new client or breakthrough that one roadbloack holding you back from success, what would that mean to you? Then, take a risk and give me, Leanne, a call at 219.759.5601 to experience incredible results.
Visit http://www.processspecialist.com/ and explore everything from free articles to connecting with Leanne.