When we stop asking “What is happening?” and start acting on ‘What IS happening’

Ask yourself the following questions …
What happens when you stop living in a world of
‘what if’ …

• this economy doesn’t change soon?
• we don’t live through the storm?
• we don’t change our business?
• our market doesn’t return?

and instead move to a world of
‘the way it is’ …

• what has changed that we need to accept?
• what do we need to change?
• what does the marketplace need from us NOW that we can successfully provide?

Think about it.  What does this shift do for the health of your company?
What is the impact on the leadership … collectively and individually? 
How does it help to solidify the strength of your organization and stabilize the work force on which your success ultimately depends? 

What it does is return you and your business to the land of the living.  Do you really have a choice?   We say NO!  No, that is, if you want to thrive in this new business world.  The many leaders with whom we meet know that this is where they must go.  How to do this quickly, efficiently and effectively is the challenge and there is no doubt that when your company makes the switch you will have transitioned to an organization that has fully embraced the realities of the day … your first step to reinvent your success.

Up to this point, many companies have taken measures to weather the storm.  They have aimed to become more efficient in their operations by cutting any combination of appropriate production, process and staffing expenses.

Surviving on this path looks like this:

survive › endure › continue to exist › make ends meet › head above water

And regardless of how diligent one has taken this path, being in such a survival mode begins to get old and tired … fast.  There are no businesses that were established simply to survive.  For any prolonged period this becomes outright depressing for all and eventually even scary.

But there’s another pathway that’s filled with enthusiasm, energy and excitement.  For the health of businesses in general and the work forces that make them happen, we believe it right and timely to adopt this ‘other’ approach:

survive › prevail › triumph › overcome › succeed › achieve › victory!!!

The first path brought you to where you are today.  It was a necessary step.  However … the second one is the key that will return you to being in the driver’s seat of future growth and success.  Aren’t you ready?

Three key areas are critical to achieving the transition:

# 1. The Leadership Team reclaims the driver’s seat

A critical ‘first step’ is to reestablish the cohesiveness and consensus within the leadership team.  Residing in an environment of uncertainty, insecurity and yes, even fear, has impacted each and every person in some way(s).  Perhaps for the first time the leadership team is uncertain as to what the future will bring.  Their uncertainty may be responsible for undermining the team’s confidence, thereby delaying critical decisions, or worse yet, making no decisions at all.

The good news is that realigning the team doesn’t take a long time.  It does take a willingness to make this your single point of focus. to first, understand the realistic impact of the times and then, creatively and innovatively find your redefined business, market and approach.  As such, we know that our two-day process will result in your team emerging with renewed excitement about the future; refocusing on the organization’s strengths; and instilling a mindset of success throughout the organization.

# 2. Enhancing Effectiveness of individual team members

The second step is just as critical because it recognizes the need to support individual leaders transitioning to a new way of viewing the company’s future and their related and specific responsibilities to it.

This focus will complete the transition to the company’s ‘new world’.  We refer to changes in the scope of responsibilities, the nature of the business and the need to develop bench strength.  It’s what’s required to be successful in the new evolving marketplace. 

The faster this is accomplished, the faster the company proceeds to the more desirable path to success.  We’ll gladly share our ideas and timetable on how to approach this stage of the process.

# 3. Develop middle managers – a mandatory ingredient!

With control and clarity of vision reclaimed by the senior leadership team, your company is off to a great start however, you’re definitely NOT finished! 

Simply stated, the bus you’re driving is not the same.  It’s probably smaller and more compact  … it must be more efficient … and overall, it’s leaner and meaner.  In fact, you must take specific steps to rely more on the middle management team to implement the changes required to achieve success.

This third step provides enhanced leadership skills and tools to second and third tier leaders to strengthen your refocused organization.  This group of leaders will require training aimed at increasing their team building effectiveness and communication skills.  With increased confidence, they become more willing and able to assume their expanded responsibilities.  This will permit the senior leaders to spend the needed time guiding the company.

In summary, moving from the survival mindset of working to ‘keep your head above water’ to one filled with “achievement and victory” is really about how you pack your mental suitcase.  It’s recognizing that you are in business in pursuit of the win … and winning was never just about existing.  It’s about recognizing that being victorious tomorrow will require a similar diligence and drive as it did in the past, built around new and appropriate assumptions plus these added factors:

Where are you and your company in the transition?  Still on the ‘keep heads above water’ path?  Do you feel you’ve begun to reclaim your future?  If you were to completely let go of all of the old assumptions that drove your business yesterday, what will that open the way for that will lead your company to a redefined reality, vision and success?  Frankly, we at The Third Zone believe it’s worth exploring and welcome the opportunity to discuss specific applications for your company.