When Growth Melts Away

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

Growth stalls… It happens in every company, and it happens in every individual’s life.

No one is exempt from the cycles of growth and retreat. It’s not a question of competence or enthusiasm. It’s just normal pattern of life. Generating consistent growth is just plain hard, no matter how smart, experienced, or talented you are. As one company leader said, “It’s like trying to keep an ice cube from melting. It can be done, but only in a special environment.”

There are many external forces that can cause an individual, or organization, to enter into a season of decline: economic upheavals, aggressive competition, missed opportunities, and changing external demands.

But research has also identified four internal factors that work against recovery - and paralyze growth

:

1) Lack of Consensus. When we are in turmoil with those closest to us - or when there is a lack of agreement among an organization’s senior leadership about the nature and direction of the company - forward movement is paralyzed.  “Consensus issues are hard to identify and unpleasant to face. But if you have a consensus problem, things can’t get better until you recognize them.” Once recognized, only then can you work together to uncover the issues that are causing disagreement, and enter onto a path of reconciliation and consensus building.

2) Loss of Focus. Whether you are an individual, or a company, there is only a finite amount of resources - money, time, talent, energy - at your disposal. A loss (or reduction) of any of these resources can, over time, derail a person from moving toward their goals and dreams.

3) Loss of Nerve. When growth stalls, life can become confusing. “Great leaders are supposed to be firm, decisive, and sure-footed. When things go wrong, you just fix them. That is, until the problems spin beyond your control.” It’s discouraging. It’s contagious. “It’s one thing to struggle privately…it’s quite another when the discouragement and disillusionment hit you so hard you can’t hide them. When the CEO is worried, everybody’s worried.” It’s paralyzing. It’s wearying… When you’re struggling to keep your head above water, taking risks is the last thing you want to do. Yet, at these times, some risk taking is just what is needed.

4) Inconsistent Innovation. “The companies with the strongest track records do everything they can to maintain a consistent presence in the marketplace - even as the economy moves up and down, as competitors come and go, and as consumer tastes shift.”

** Are any of these 4 factors impacting your growth, or the growth or your organization?