Business Success and Failure
Who is usually responsible for
· Successes – ????? The executive team, planning dept., middle mgmt., frontline staff, everyone????
· Failures - ???? usually nobody.
o Frequently a rigorous round of the “blame game” breaks out. Management points the finger at staff for poor execution. Staff point back by questioning the competency of management. Or…
o In some misguided efforts to develop more “positive work environments” successes are shared by everyone but failures simply get brushed aside as outside of anyone’s control. (“It is a difficult market, consumers are fickle, we just can’t catch a break, every one is taking a hit right now” etc.)
A better approach… Learning!
- Successes –The leadership involves staff in identifying the behaviors that led to the success so that the success can be repeated and the behaviors adopted by others.
- Failures – First, refrain from “shame and blame” it is utterly unproductive. Instead involve staff in a non threatening discussion focused on
- What was expected to happen (goal)
- What actually happened
- What should have been done differently
- Gaining agreement (commitment) to getting better results next time.
I think you will find a positive and more performance oriented work environment.
I know this seems incredibly simplistic but try to think of a time in the last year that your organization actually handled a success or failure in this manner. al