Can we just be honest?
Maybe it is all sale's fault?
Why isn’t your company growing at the rate you need it to?
Maybe your product is ugly and outdated?
Maybe your sales team isn't closing at the rate they should?
Maybe your marketing is boring?
Maybe you need new leadership?
The good news is that no matter which one of these problems you have, they aren't unsurmountable, you can easily overcome any one of them but only if you run at them.
That is the catch though - the only way you're going to do that is if you're honest. Honest about the problems facing your business.
As an advisor and now running an agency I get to peak behind the curtain at a lot of companies. I’m always amazed by what the leadership team doesn’t see. As a pair of fresh eyes - it is sometimes so obvious.
Sometimes they don’t see it because they are too in love with their own product.
Sometimes their ego won’t allow it.
Or sometimes they just don’t want to say it because they are afraid to hurt feelings.
No matter the reason though it is a dangerous spot to be in.
The people that can obviously see the issue will lose faith in leadership.
Problems go unsolved and growth stalls.
Resentments build between teams.
So how do you avoid the trap? The two most consistent characteristics I see in companies where this doesn’t exist:
Leaders Lead by Example: If your leadership team treats honesty like a hot potato, don't expect the rest of the company to embrace openness. It starts at the top. Leaders need to be the first to say, "Hey, we messed up," or "This isn’t working, let's pivot." When they can show that it’s okay to admit when something isn’t perfect, it sets the stage for everyone else to be candid about the real issues they're seeing.
They Hold Regular 'Retros': Get all your teams into the habit of holding retrospectives - including leadership. The goal isn’t to blame people or teams, but a chance for everyone to air out what’s working and what’s flopping, without repercussions. Sometimes it is part of their QBR’s, sometimes it is a separate session held monthly. They key is to create the space for people to voice what isn’t working. It’s about fine-tuning your process and getting better every single time.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for reading!
Adam