See-Saw. Roller Coaster. Ups and Downs. Uncertainty. Risk. Change.
These are the words that are flooding the headlines of newspapers, blogs, magazines and unfortunately, the conversations in the boardrooms of many companies. And the most common reaction will be to hunker down, cut back, and reduce expenses to weather the storm and not get blown away by the unknown future. And I say hogwash.
The one thing every company needs right now is an initiative that clearly spells out what you want your employees and your channel partners to do to ensure success in the future.
You need to establish an influence initiative that clearly delineates the things that you want your business to accomplish and outlines the behaviors that will get you there.
Create Certainty
Creating a program that communicates these steps - and rewards those that achieve their part - removes the uncertainty that is causing poor decision making and in many cases - no decision making. When uncertain or when in ambiguous situations, people react conservatively. Your employees won't try anything new yet innovation is the life-blood for business today. Your sales people won't look for new clients yet growing market share while your competition is frozen in uncertainty will drive future business.
Eliminate the uncertainty and establish a focus for your employees and channel partners. Give them the foundation they need to perform - give them the rules.
Acting vs Watching
You can't hope your way out of a business issue. You can only act your way out.
In these uncertain times most employees are waiting. With so much conflicting information and so many people throwing their arms in the air it is less risky (in their minds) to do nothing than to do something. They are waiting to see if what they knew in the past is still applicable - or do they have to do something different. They are waiting - not doing.
But the issue isn't one of not wanting to do something - they are looking for someone to show them the way. Your job as a business manager, owner, principal - is to provide that direction. Installing a reward and influence initiative communicates in no-uncertain terms what you think people should do.
