Interpersonal Business

Business owners for generations have gotten caught up in the “romance” of sales growth while taking their eye off of profitability. Big egos always have and always will compromise solid business practices. Businesses will continue to fail or underperform, not from market conditions, a poor economy or steamy competition. They will continue to underachieve by pretending to be something they are not in these very difficult times.

We have all grappled with our own expectations relating peak performance for ourselves and others, but we can only hold others to a level of performance consistent with our own in order to sustain credibility. This said, as managers we can never completely understand or assimilate peak performance until it has become fully exhibited, comprehended, and established. We can’t always sustain a standard of peak performance from all of those with whom we come in professional contact. We can expect a commitment to progress in each and every professional relationship we maintain, including the professional relationship we have with ourselves.

Managers must be sensitive to the shared dynamics found with staff members during challenging economic times. We are not an island and likely the same concerns and impact of adversity touches all members of our team. We must think globally rather than from an isolated perspective. Meet with team members both as a group and individually if for no other reason but to be candid current dynamics, but more importantly to simply say “Thanks.” Small victories should be acknowledged and built upon for inspiration.

These are challenging times for American Business. Change is in the air; are we inspired or threatened by this prospect? More importantly, if we truly have bought in, do we really mean it? It is much more common to fight for ones comfort zones than to truly embrace change. Three questions come in to play for effective change. Is the inspiration behind this change consistent with the current evolution in the marketplace? Does this new objective inspire and renew you? Finally, and perhaps most significantly, is this a concept you can personally endorse and sell as if it were your own? These are the key elements of sound and productive change.