I just had another of those moments that caused an unpleasant ‘tummy churn’.
A post from a so called ‘business coach’ that promised a ‘business turnaround in 90 days’.
Perhaps they know something I do not.
Having stumbled around in this arena for 35 years, I have not yet found anything like the template that can make any sort of promise like that.
Yes, there are sensible activities you can do that when done well will create the opportunities for significant change and improvement. Sometimes a complete revision of the business can be kicked off, but events rarely happen like that in the absence of an outside catalyst.
Every successful turnaround I have seen, or been involved with, has had four common characteristics:
- They have identified and taken immediate action that addresses the current activities that cost more than they generate in customer value. In other words, putting customer service and satisfaction at the centre of consideration.
- They have taken the immediate opportunities, often staring them in the face, to increase revenue
- They have removed the usually obvious wasted effort and activity which when eliminated delivers incremental cost free capacity.
- They have ensured that the actions taken are scalable.
In that 4 part formula is a host of improvement opportunity, and difficulty.
And, it is never completed in 90 days. It is a journey, with a first 90 days, followed by another, and another.
To promise a ‘90 day turn-around’ is fantasy. It simply cannot be delivered; best you can do is to take a big first step along the road. However, taking that first step is often the hardest one to take.
Beware of the gold tooth brigade!
