When business grows at a rapid rate, sometimes the entire operation can seem as though it's turned upside down. But there are steps you can take to avert permanent disaster.
When business grows at a rapid rate, sometimes the entire operation can seem as though it's turned upside down, that what was normally a well-functioning machine is suddenly topsy-turvy, and that it may not survive. An attitude of mounting negativity ekes in as the business stretches to meet old and new demands.
Work standards and the overall value of everyone's efforts are scrutinized. Emotions run high and nerves become frayed. People start to doubt themselves and each other. Deadlines are missed and standard production gets bogged down. Suddenly, it seems that chaos has taken a stronghold on your business.
This is also a time when the unexpected is likely to happen to complicate an already stressful situation. New clients pour in (a blessing in disguise), computers crash, people are away from work to meet family or social commitments, or someone gets sick. And to further complicate matters, several of these situations happen at the same time, leaving those left to carry the load feeling a bit dazed.
But there are steps you can take to avert permanent disaster.
7 Tips to Surviving Business Growth:
1. Communicate clearly and seek input from everyone to gain the greatest benefits.
2. Reinforce the value of your team. Mutual support is vital to peak performance, so praise them for their diligent efforts and contribution to the success of the business.
3. Maintain an attitude of respect with each other, realizing that everyone feels pushed beyond normal limits.
4. Keep a positive focus about difficult tasks. If you perceive that a project will be difficult, then rest assured that difficult is what you'll get.
5. Take advantage of new work, but ask for latitudes that protect everyone from burnout. A project may be ill-timed, but clients are the reason you're in business.
6. At all costs avoid the blame game, a negative concept that serves no purpose for anyone.
7. Despite mistakes, make all efforts to move forward and focus on what needs attention now, not in the past.
It's difficult to maintain high production and morale standards when changes occur, particularly growth changes. But with solid business strategies and goals and consistent work ethics and practices, these changes can be temporary and nonthreatening in the long run. If you want your business to be successful, take steps toward attitudes and actions that avert burdens for anyone and, in fact, spur new levels of growth.
