by Cynthia
Bull
http://www.winning-atwork.com
©
2008
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 happento 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:
- Communicate clearly and seek input from everyone
to gain the greatest benefits.
- 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.
- Maintain
an attitude of respect with each other, realizing that everyone feels pushed beyond
normal limits.
- 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.
- 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.
- At all costs avoid the blame game,
a negative concept that serves no purpose for anyone.
- 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.
