Stop Tolerating the Norm
Read time: 2.5 minutes
You tolerate the way things are right now and it’s killing your growth.
Your teams are constantly bogged down with day-to-day tasks and urgent matters.
Each time you make a quick fix it comes with the promise that “you’ll make it better later”.
As time passes, the temporary fixes you’ve put in place silently shift to being the new norm. You know better, but it feels like it’s working well enough and there are more pressing matters at hand.
You rarely stop to take a look at the list of things you once thought you’d have time to make better. Even more importantly, you don’t pause to understand the real cost of having this list.
It’s not an accident that it feels like it takes more effort to run the business and even more to grow. By not tackling this list, you unconsciously invest more resources into making the business work and push your people to produce more.
It doesn’t have to be this way. And it starts with your leadership team.
1. Make it Safe
Your team may or may not be used to talking about topics like this openly.
It’s important to acknowledge that this is normal in the course of growing a business and appreciate them for the hard work they’re doing.
Every business has a list like this, and we have an opportunity to be more effective than most businesses. T
There aren’t going to be consequences for talking openly about what isn’t working.
2. Ask the Hard Questions
What do we tolerate not working properly or not meeting our expectations?
What have given up on trying to improve or change?
What have we promised or intended to improve but just haven’t got around to it?
What do our clients tolerate from us?
3. Deepen Understanding and Explore Priority
What does this cost us?
If it goes unresolved, how much will it cost us over the next five years?
How long has this been going on?
How have we tried to fix it?
What is this like for our clients and our employees?
How committed are we to solving this?
4. Clarify Outcomes and Define Actions
When do we need to act on this?
Do we understand fully what it will take to do this?
How will we shift our priorities to make room for this?
Do we have the ability to do this?
Who will be accountable for making it happen?
Conclusion
You may find moments of discovery, discomfort, or reflection.
Stay open to each person's contributions and experience.
I promise, it will be a valuable discussion no matter the outcome.
If you’re ready to dig in and want support, let’s talk. Schedule a call
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