How to Reverse the Decline

How to Reverse the Decline
By Bob Moore, CMC, MCC, The Effectiveness Coach®

Word Count: 396 Words
Reading Time: Less then 3 minutes

Many organizations continue in a state of decline. Some authorities characterize the leadership style/behavior within declining organization as the “deer-in-the- headlights” syndrome—frozen and unable to move in a positive direction.

Could it be prior periods of profitability and growth masked the problems and postponed solutions? Decline is frequently the result of prolonged inability or unwillingness to recognize changes affecting the organization or refusing to respond to change. This is often referred to as the “burying-your-head-in-the-sand” response like a frightened ostrich. The other possible explanation for decline is insufficient resources to respond to change, particularly human resources. A story from Aesop's Fable, The Soldier and His Horse may apply here.

“A Soldier gave his horse a plentiful supply of oats in time of war, and tended him with the utmost care, for he wished him to be strong to endure the hardships of the field, and swift to bear his master, when need arose, out of the reach of danger. But when the war was over he employed him on all sorts of drudgery, bestowing but little attention upon him, and giving him, moreover, nothing but chaff to eat. The time came when war broke out again, and the soldier saddled and bridled his horse, and, having put on his heavy coat of mail, mounted him to ride off and take the field. But the poor, half-starved beast sank down under his weight, and said to his rider, "You will have to go into battle on foot this time. Thanks to hard work and bad food, you have turned me from a horse into an ass; and you cannot in a moment turn me back again into a horse."

So much for the metaphors, I hope you get the picture be it deer, ostrich or horse! Reversing the decline may be as simple as tending to the human resources required to win the battle. Listen for the early indicators of the recovery, the sounding trumpet. Will you be ready for the battle to dominate your market?

Now is the time for you—business owner, executive or knowledge-based professional—to be sure you have the right players in the right position on your team. Then, optimize their capacity to excel. Consider the T-E-A-M formula. It takes Talent matched to the job, Engaged and Empowered, Aligned with your strategic objectives and Mastering the essential skills required to excel.

Enthusiastically,

Bob

Bob Moore, CMC®, President
Effectiveness, Inc/The Effectiveness Coach®
Aligning Human Capital with Strategic Objectives

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