Posts Tagged ‘Big Picture’

Break, Fix, Improve – Part 2

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

OK so we knew this one was coming!

In the previous post we were talking about something being broken, fixed and improved, in order to be stronger. In that post the subject was me. And a dodgy knee caused by my stubborn stupidity amongst other things.

But you have to admit that the parallels to businesses with issues are striking. Think of this. There’s a business problem, albeit small, and so you ignore it. It’s gets a little worse but you can still work through or around it. Eventually the issue can no longer be ignored. It’s got to the point where the business can no longer function normally anymore.

So what should one do? Limp along with a fundamentally broken business, whilst losing valuable customers and staff? Or maybe look to address the issues? And in doing so work to ensure that the problems are dealt with and unlikely to return. And of course finally, to not only fix the immediate issue but to become stronger for the experience.

All sounds very obvious so far right? But you’d be amazed by how often issues are just left to fester. Things either slowly fall apart or people learn to live with them.

One of the many things a business coach can do is help organisations to deal with exactly this kind of scenario. Sometimes it takes an ‘outsider’ to be the bad guy, to call it as it is and suggest appropriate responses and changes. The keys are objectivity and independence. A coach has a brief to help the business. Whilst it’s important, in my opinion, to have an understanding of the broader scenario, a good coach will work to the brief for the benefit of the business, without being swayed by politics or other influences.

We evaluate a problem, propose remedies, assist in implementation if required and help you and your business emerge stronger than ever.

In fact, we help with this scenario more than any other. If the above is familiar to you or there’s another issue or question that springs to mind and you’d like to talk it through with me, please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Can’t see the Woods for the trees….

Friday, April 16th, 2010

I was watching the US Masters golf on TV at the weekend and Tiger Woods had hit another wayward shot into the pines at Augusta. Peter Alliss, whose commentary was faultless (bar one bizarre reference to haircuts and Jonathan Ross.. Go figure) and entertaining as usual made the comment that we couldn’t see Woods for the trees. Not a titter from his commentary partner Sam Torrence. But I thought it was witty anyway, so thank you Peter!

The reason it resonated with me is that when Acquire is asked by a customer to provide coaching services, more often than not, it’s this analogy that applies. The customer, who’s usually a senior director, explains that he or she needs help with developing a strategy, executing against a previously well regarded business plan, or indeed writing a business plan to start with.

In the vast majority of instances it’s a case of being too close to the detail to see the big picture, or in other words not being able to see the woods (or forest for our US friends) for the trees. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there and probably more times than we’d like to admit. Dealing with staff, customers, suppliers, shareholders, lawyers and the like make it pretty easy to take your eyes off the prize, right? And that’s exactly where Acquire comes in. We are NOT wrapped up in the day to day fire-fighting that devours time and purpose. We are not emotionally involved and suffering from the extreme stress that so often, that one thing alone can detonate.

Your Acquire coach is the voice of reason and experience, of calm perspective and vision. Acquire is able to help peel back the layers of distraction to enable a focus on what’s crucial in the bigger picture. We help plot the course and can help oversee the execution of the plan. Acquire can work with you long or short term but what we really want is for you to fly solo, to soar the heights and view the woods as a whole new experience. And you will.

Thanks as always for stopping by, comments are always greatly appreciated.

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