Greg Smith
Lead Navigator & Business Strategist
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We help clients maximize their effectiveness and profitability
by accelerating performance. We work in partnership with business
executives and deliver a portfolio of performance improving
strategies that produce measurable results by strengthening the
performance and productivity of individual employees and the
organization as a whole.
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Featured Resources
How many meetings have you been to that are just the same
old thing -- boring gatherings you can't wait to leave! Here
is an opportunity to make your next meeting, class, or team building
event something dynamic and interesting.
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here.
New and Improved
Bright Ideas Campaign
Capture hundreds of employee suggestions
and ideas in three weeks
Supporting Organizational Change
is
a Vital Learning program that provides the tools managers need to
understand and interpret change to prepare them to more successfully
manage their team through it. By working to support change and at
the same time addressing the team’s comfort level with that change,
the manager can more effectively facilitate acceptance of a new way
of doing things.
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 Upcoming
Events
Certified Customer Service Leader Training
Program
Sept 14-16, Minneapolis, MN
Contact us for more information.
Employee Involvement Association Annual Meeting
October 1-2, Indianapolis, IN
http://www.eianet.org
Quote to Remember
“We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of
every passing ship.”
–General Omar Nelson Bradley
Why Good Companies
Fail -- Tulips, Turnips and Organizational Change Strategies
Have you ever experienced this in your company? Company X celebrated
their 20th anniversary this year. During those 20 years a lot of things
have changed. Once a shining star in their industry, now the shine
seemed to be fading fast.
The HR Director was the first person to bring up the problem. It seemed
the executives were going in one direction and everyone else was moving
in the opposite direction. During the past 12 months they implemented
two realignments and laid off 20% of the workforce. Employees complained
they were working the jobs of two people, and there was a lack of
communication and a growing frustration and distrust of management.
People reported the leadership direction appeared reactionary and
disjointed. The HR Director tried to explain the problem to the
President, but it became clear the meeting was not going anywhere.
When we entered the picture, I requested a meeting with the President.
After I asked a few questions things became clear. He had been in his
position for eight months and was brought in to turn things around. It
seemed the harder he pushed the worse things became. His frustration was
palpable. His executive leadership team was not working together and in
fact, one of his executives was sabotaging the process. The combined
frustration had caused him many sleepless nights, high blood pressure
and was affecting his home life. If the company did not turn the corner
soon they would ultimately face bankruptcy and disgrace.
Jim Collins’ latest book, “Why the Mighty Fall,” describes the five
stages of decline this company was experiencing.
Stage 1: Hubris Born of Success
During this stage the company begins losing sight of the values and
strategies that made it successful. Their success becomes a weakness and
begins to eat away at their foundation and a feeling of “entitlement”
permeates the organization.
Stage 2: Undisciplined Pursuit of More
The organization has the feeling they can do no wrong. They feel they
are invincible and are blind to their incompetence. They expand into
markets and make risky and undisciplined decisions to grow, purchase,
expand and enter into areas they know little about or should be involved
in.
Stage 3: Denial of Risk and Peril
As they enter this stage, warning signs and metrics begin to mount.
Teamwork, communication and morale issues begin to surface. Despite the
symptoms, they ignore reality and continue along the path of
destruction.
Stage 4: Grasping for Salvation
At this stage, they are struggling and looking for a silver bullet
solution to save them. Typical actions can include bringing in a new
charismatic CEO, bold and daring new strategies, and new acquisitions
and radical transformations. The clock is ticking and unless they get
the right help at this stage, they have little chance of recovering.
Stage 5: Capitulation to Irrelevance and Death
So what do you do if you find yourself in this predicament? The good
news is if you catch the decline in the early stages, then most
companies can remedy the problem themselves. But when it has gone on for
a lengthy amount of time, when the band-aids, silver bullet programs,
and flavor de-jour have failed to work, then you may need outside
assistance. The longer you wait, the more difficult the cure. It is
similar to a patient who keeps experiencing a pain that never goes away.
When they finally go the doctor the treatment ends up costing a lot more
money in lost opportunities, time and inconvenience.
I have learned an “outsider” has a special ability to address and talk
openly about business matters an “insider” cannot. The old proverb, “It
is lonely at the top” is true. Executives can share things with me they
will never share with others in the company. This position of trust is
sacred and the objective and honest feedback is critical.
A couple of weeks later the executive team met offsite for a day long
meeting. The executive team was comprised of intelligent, dedicated and
motivated individuals. However, each individual had a completely
different personality, values and an opinion on how to lead their
company out of the mess. They were able to lay everything on the
table—no holds barred. At the end of the offsite they had outlined a
unified strategy, goals and action steps to move forward. Now after
several months, the company has turned the corner and mostly everyone is
pleased in the direction they are going.
If you are leader in your organization and want to discuss your
particular predicament, feel free to give me a call. There is no charge
and no obligation to speak to me.
Greg Smith
CEO and "Captain
of the Ship"
770-860-9464
Greg Smith Becomes
President of the Board of Directors, Mercy Heart Health Clinic
Chart Your Course International is proud to announce Greg Smith has been
selected as the President of the Board of Directors of Mercy Heart
Health Clinic.
Mercy Heart is a volunteer-based 501(c) (3) nonprofit Christian health
center providing care for the uninsured in Rockdale County, Georgia.
Mercy Heart is about ministry–caring for the medically uninsured in the
community. Here at Mercy Heart, we have the privilege of doing that by
providing medical, pharmacy, and dental care services.
Mercy Heart relies on volunteers be it doctors, dentists, pharmacists,
nurses, therapists, clerical and other personnel. We welcome expertise
from all walks of life. They are financially supported through
volunteers, grants and charitable donations of many gracious
individuals, churches and organizations.
Join and Attend the
Employee Involvement Association
EIA is an internationally recognized organization serving professional
managers and administrators of employee involvement and suggestion
programs for over 65 years by providing quality educational programs,
publications, benchmarking and networking opportunities. Our members are
leaders who are dedicated to building organizations that engage their
employees, encouraging them to contribute to their organizations at many
levels and in many ways.
Greg will be speaking at two sessions at the EIA Annual meeting in
Indianapolis, IN at the Crowne Plaza Grand Hall and Conference Center,
October 1-2.
For more information please visit: http://www.eianet.org/
Last Chance to
Order Our Leadership Series Workbooks
and Facilitator Kits at Regular Price
Sad, but true --There will be a significant price increase on our
popular leadership program training materials effective September 1. If
interested, order now before the price goes up.
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2009 Job
Satisfaction Survey Points to Major Workplace Issues
Chart Your Course International completed the 2009
Job Satisfaction Survey in July. The survey focused
on how people felt about their jobs and their working
environment during the economic downturn. Respondents
were asked 13 questions relating to job frustration, trust,
motivation, employee retention and communication in the
workplace. Over 200 people responded to the online survey.
View
the complete survey
 Hire
and Promote Top Talent
We provide a comprehensive portfolio of
hiring and development solutions including 360, team,
customer service, executive talent and management
development reports and assessments.
Visit our webpage
Daily
Cartoon
For those of you needing a little laugh, we invite you to visit the
Daily Cartoon page on our website. The cartoons are provided by Ted
Goff.
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