Lack of Strategy a Common Business Downfall - Commercial ...

October 09, 2012 | by Mark Coxon

Commercial Integrator?s article ?37 Strategies for 2013? is a great forward-thinking feature, but the sad truth is many integrators who read it will do nothing with the information, continuing on their current paths.

Why is that?

Most small- to medium-sized integration business are run like a hurdles race. Integrators sprint towards each install, leap into action, hit the ground running and proceed on to the next job. If they fall behind the competition or hit a hurdle on the way, the philosophy is to ?run faster, jump higher.?

At the end of the yearly race, many jump right into the next heat, not even thinking to look back and see how many hurdles were toppled and how many are still standing upright.

The high jump is comprised of the same components - running and jumping - but the approach is different. The participants look at the bar, start running slowly, accelerate, and then jump, using technique and not brute force and speed, to clear the bar. A bar, I remind you, that is much higher. If the bar is missed, there is a pause. Evaluation is made of the speed, the angle of approach, the technique. Then the jump is attempted again.

What happens if the jump is made successfully? Does the athlete go sit down, happy to know how to clear the bar? No, the bar is raised. He trains to jump higher and higher.

Many small- to medium-sized firms have trouble planning and developing processes for constant re-evaluation of their efforts. Many of us are deeply involved in every installation, which means there is little time for anything else.
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I know a great business coach who says too many business owners spend all their time working in their business, and not enough time working on their business. That is exactly what happens to many of us. We need to develop a process that allows us to assess our efforts periodically as we go through each year, ensuring we are continually getting better and raising the bar for our revenues and the quality of the industry.

My challenge to you: take one of Commercial Integrator?s 37 Strategies for 2013 and put it to good use. We don?t all have the manpower to employ full-time business strategists, but if they are willing to share their insights, don?t let them go to waste. Let?s make a collective effort to get better and grow our businesses.

And when you think you?ve reached your limit, when there is no possible way you could clear a higher bar, remember to take a look around. You may just see some others finding ways to use innovative tools to reach new heights.

Source: http://www.commercialintegrator.com/article/lack_of_strategy_common_business_downfall

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