A recent conversation started with a typical question, "How's business?" The reply was equally typical and prefaced by a sigh, "You know (another sigh), same old / same old."
Clearly the person responding has "VCD" or "Vision Challenge Disorder." VCD happens when the vigor goes out of the company vision like air going out of a balloon. Maybe the original vision has been reached and the business is just coasting, maintaining the status quo, marching in place. The overall energy and focus of the organization has shifted from taking initiative and towards the security of sameness and "playing defense."
With no vision to focus on and no challenges to face, the staff gets frustrated. They flounder because there is no guiding direction to align their performance expectations; the business stagnates ? "You know (sigh), same old / same old." This stultifying attitude can be the beginning of the feared slippery slope ending ultimately in the demise of the business.
When VCD rears its ugly head it is time to reevaluate the company and its core foundational elements. Is the vision exciting, expansive, and energizing? If you look at the two previous sentences and yawn, your company has a VCD problem ? "you know (sigh), same old / same old."
Here is a four-step process to insure you don't let Vision Challenge Disorder enter your company.
1) See if your Vision for the company is still relevant ? if you don't have a Vision written out, that's a different, but no less important, problem.
2) Discover if your staff is aware of the Vision and if they believe it is still relevant.
3) Review your Vision, clarify it if it is indistinct, modify it as needed
4) Work on making that Vision your reality ? implement, implement, implement!
When the Vision is well articulated and integrated into weekly, monthly and yearly goals, the company will reenergize and look towards the future with enthusiasm, optimism and a renewed sense of purpose. Your clients will feel it, your competitors will fear it so dust off your Vision, polish it and enjoy your future.
Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, "Front Lines with Larry Galler" Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com
same day cleaning service Bannockburn ..1. Attempt Succession Planning Without Other Strategic Plans. Succession plans... Read More
If you are looking for a partner, funding, angle investor... Read More
So you've decided to write your own business plan because... Read More
When you start your program to purchase your "ideal" company,... Read More
Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More
The decision to sell, or not to sell your business... Read More
When in doubt, cut that out! Yeah, yea, doubting Thomas... Read More
Is there a 'magical' way to exponentially grow your business?It's... Read More
Does the competition drive you crazy?Are they relentless about taking... Read More
Most companies that are worthy of raising venture capital have... Read More
The first step in starting a restaurant is proper planning.... Read More
As a franchisor it is imperative that you seek, find... Read More
Why cut costs now? Efforts are multiplying to cut costs... Read More
Human beings are rational agents. Rationality endorses one to take... Read More
Writing a business plan can be tricky when all the... Read More
Strategic planning is vital while starting a new business or... Read More
There is so much small business information available today that... Read More
Writing a business plan for a franchised outlet of a... Read More
Building a dynamic small business is a constantly evolving, increasingly... Read More
Business rises and falls on leadership. According to business guru,... Read More
You have invested a lot of time and energy on... Read More
If you are in the parking business and own or... Read More
In 1989, Sony founded its Institute of Wisdom at the... Read More
How often does your company make a quantum leap forward?... Read More
Business seems to drop, slow or even stop during the... Read More
housekeepers near Deerfield ..In 1997, David Steele was making the transition from a... Read More
Many of Ohio's downtown areas are in need of upgrading... Read More
Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More
We all know that nothing runs without a plan, and... Read More
Writing a business plan is an essential part of the... Read More
I am not a big fisherman, but I do enjoy... Read More
Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More
What do Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Allen, Anthony Robbins, Andrew... Read More
Diversify - to make diverse, give variety, to balance, to... Read More
I recently took an organizational behavior class where my professor... Read More
David E. Gumpert, author of Burn Your Business Plan, often... Read More
Human beings are rational agents. Rationality endorses one to take... Read More
Obviously, there will never be an actual water shortage since... Read More
A menu is the foundation of any restaurant; Guests will... Read More
Here's a really simple way to make sure your plans... Read More
After 128 years of business, a household word, Montgomery Wards,... Read More
One Research Scientist at the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Imaging Systems laboratory... Read More
1. Largest Selection -One way that you can make your... Read More
It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More
You have heard that there is extra money on the... Read More
Writing a business plan can be tricky when all the... Read More
The current state of the available technology at the disposal... Read More
Here is an abstract thought on studying nature and the... Read More
Business rises and falls on leadership. According to business guru,... Read More
I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More
Strategic Planning |