No Time For Improvements ?

Are all resources busy running daily business with no time to improve or develop – not to mention – grow ?

Has your business become complex ?  Then it may be time to check if your basics are in a good shape.

I see companies building “layer on layer” on their business trying to find the golden key to more sales and profit. Complexity is growing and performance is declining. Then it’s time to ask yourself:  “Are we really developing our business or are we just compensating for flaws in our basic functions ?”

Check the list and find your flaws:

•Strategy: Is it clear and communicated what we are trying to achieve. Do we know our critical must win battles ?

•Structure: Is the organisation fit for the strategy. Can decisions be made locally. Is cooperation effective ?

•Style: Is our leadership style supporting the structure and our values ?

•Skills: Are the needed skills present. Are education plans and recruitment supporting  our development plans ?

•Staff: Do staff functions support strategic must win battles and support other functions in achieving theirs ?

•Systems: Do we have the right IT systems and/or procedures for:

•Customer service/Sales & Marketing

•Supply chain/Operations planning

•Finance/Compliance

•Shared Values: Are our values supporting our strategic priorities. Do we live the values ?

No company can tick off all boxes but being aware of the most critical gabs and working with them will often pay back much better than adding new systems, products, functions etc. to a fragile foundation.

Admitted! – Getting the basics right is boring. It’s time consuming. It feels like it never ends – which is right – it never will.