Do You Have Control of Your Business…or the ILLUSION of Control?

by Donald Miller, President

Let’s start this discussion by defining our terms. The Oxford American Dictionary defines control as: “The power to influence peoples behavior or the course of events”.

The definition of illusion is “a false idea or belief” and “deceptive appearance of impression.”

Which best describes your company and your position in it? Most of the small to medium sized businesses we encounter have some things in common.  Usually the owner has expertise or some experience in the product or service the company is providing.  For example the Master electrician owns the electrical contracting company.  The homebuilder becomes the General Contractor etc. We know that they understand the technical side of their business however by choice that isn’t their job anymore.  They are now the President but they haven’t had the training for this job so by nature they revert to performing pieces of their old job which cannot have the desired results. The result creates the ultimate firefighter that works very hard but never seems to get ahead. After years of this they begin to accept things like breaking even or even financial losses as “well that’s the nature of this business”.  Or worse yet “you know the economy is bad” instead of saying what do I need to do to become President of this company?

Jack Welch former CEO of General Electric during its largest period of growth is someone I was able to spend some time with some years ago. He vocalized some of the basic tenents I’ve been managing with all of my life. For example:

An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage. (This is virtually the credo of The dMb Group)

• Change before you have to.
• Control your own destiny or someone else will.
• Don’t manage- lead change before you have to.

The point of this discussion is face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be. The mirror of every organization is its President. If you are willing to constantly learn your people will also be. If you are set in your ways and stubborn, so will your people be.  When I hear a President look at his work force and say “well look at them! What am I supposed to do with them?” I don’t look at them, I look at him.

The good news is there are solutions. There is no “Presidents School” but there are tried and true management methods and measures. As soon as you, the President, learn them and embrace them your profit, work effort and effectiveness will improve. As soon as you are committed to learn everyday your workforce will embrace that same ethic. So strive for knowledge and stretch your personal limits.

Remember the school of hard knocks leads nowhere but some hard bruises.