Changing Course: Making Positive Change

Watching the news of stocks plummeting has prompted many business owners to step back and take a closer look at their company. Treat the current economic crisis as an opportunity to analyze your company more deeply and embark on a course change that will be best for the company’s future success. Here is an effective way to start the process once you have envisioned your course change.

Set new expectations with your executive team or key employees.

Communicate your vision and initial plans with your executive team or key employees first to gain buy-in or resolve any challenges. What are the infrastructure changes that must occur in order to support your course change? For example, if you invest in sales to drive that growth engine with more human resources, be prepared with the company support to deliver on all those new sales. How might you separate duties, create focus and pave the way for scalability to support growth?

Stage a company meeting event to communicate your expectations to all employees.

Do something inspirational to rally the troops! Share your vision, your course change, projected results and how it translates into more opportunities for all employees in the way of professional growth, advancement and compensation. Have fun things in the room—make it a celebration focused on the future, when the financial storm has passed.

Survey employees after your company meeting to assess your communication effectiveness.

You can survey employees with a simple 10-question evaluation of key points you hoped to impart to them during your company meeting. Be sure it is completely confidential and provide an option for open comments, concerns or suggestions that you, as the owner, commit to reading.

It’s your company, your vision, your goals—and your responsibility to be clear not only in your communications, but also in your actions. Successful change takes place only if you’re leading it effectively. If you have been getting involved in too many daily details—whether due to interest, passion or need—you’ll want to refocus on the big picture ideas and activities that create greater impact on results. Then, watch your company surge to the next level.