ue bot icon

Leadership Thought #263 – When You Have Something That’s Working, Stick With It

December 14, 2011

Free Person Holding White Ceramic Mug Stock Photo

Always remember that most of your employees prefer consistency. They are also prone to change fatigue and skepticism quickly.   Change for the sake of change is never advisable.  All changes should be rooted in some obvious reality that requires a shift in the status quo.  When you have something that is working, stick with it!  This doesn’t mean you run it to the ground, but it also doesn’t mean you abandon it too soon either.  In general, more things are right than there are wrong with high performing organizations.  There should be many positives you can lean on and leverage for both short and long-term benefit.

A leader should never become bored with success, although I see it all the time.  Instead of riding the wave when it crests, they feel compelled to shake things up unnecessarily before they get to shore.  It takes a self-confident person to allow others to do their job well and let the operation work.  Moreover, prior changes take time to work properly.  When I was younger, I was very influenced by a football coach who used to say we started with a handful of plays and stuck with them until they stopped working.  comp.  Until the market dictates otherwise, keep doing what you are doing (as long as it is working for you).

Don’t get me wrong.  Innovation is a good thing, and we should always be thinking about ways we can operate better, but this should not be the primary focus of organizational activity.  Once you create products and systems that work, let them work because this is where you make your money.  If your operations are always in a state of flux and your key people are constantly changing or being moved around, it is hard to create the consistency and predictability that a business needs to maximize profitability.  Organizations that are working well have ease about them.  Everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing and why; it all makes sense.

The next time you feel compelled to fix or change something or someone, ask yourself, “Why are you doing this and is it really necessary?”  What are your true motivations?  Is it about what’s best for the organization or just something that’s caught your fancy or that you need to do to feel like a vital contributor to the business?  Sleep on all major change decisions and avoid spur of the moment inclinations.  Always solicit feedback from those affected by the decision.  Weigh the pros and cons then factor in the increased costs and the potential return on investment.  Challenge yourself to make economic sense.

I encourage my clients to strive to build a business operation that runs like a Swiss watch.  Once they have a product that’s working well, the model doesn’t change very much over time.   You can count on the product to do what is supposed to do with amazing accuracy.  Repairs are the exception not the norm.  Don’t chase the fads or fashions of the day because they just as quickly become obsolete or irrelevant.  Be smart but also be thoughtful rather than impulsiveThink and plan for the long term.  When you have something that is working, stick with it!