1540 East Lake Road | Suite 100 | Erie, PA 16511 | Phone: 814.528.9402 | Fax: 814.528.9401
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June 2010 Peer Groups: The Solution to "It's Lonely at the Top"
It Is Lonely
Organizational Challenge: Plan or React? by Joe Gausman
What organization is there that doesn’t want to grow? Whether a business or a nonprofit, the emphasis is on doing more…grow! Sometimes growth comes as a result of formal planning. Emphasis is placed on sales and marketing in an effort to get more orders, serve more clients or meet more needs. The growth may be gradual at first and that trend may continue for some time. Then the curve goes vertical. A large order is awarded, a major customer is won, a grant or grants are approved and almost overnight, it seems, the organizational structure is under stress. Employees assume more “hats”. Departments are behind before they start. Overtime becomes the norm. Shortcuts are taken. And the race is on! It is too late for planning and preparing the organization. The only recourse is to react. It is important to recognize that small organizations do not usually grow linearly, which is to say a straight gradual upward sloping line. Instead the graph looks more like steps. The organization is moving along on a horizontal trend line then there is a 10%, 20%, 50% impact that drives the line vertical. Celebration soon is replaced with the sobering question: how are we going to do this? It would be nice to have personnel positioned for that positive and celebratory growth spurt but paying for that privilege too soon can be costly. So what is the answer?
So, What Have You Learned Today? by Don Golding
As a business owner, a CEO or an executive director, you must commit to a program of personal continuous improvement in order to achieve sustainable organizational success. The competitive landscape is changing rapidly, and unless you make a conscious effort to extend your knowledge and skills, you will fall behind. You also have a clear obligation to your entire staff. How do you expect your team to develop and grow if you do not set the standard? For aspiring leaders, the message is essentially the same – your individual development and growth is vital to the overall performance of the organization. If you do not believe that, you are kidding yourself and robbing your organization. Of course, you also have an added incentive – your personal advancement within the organization depends upon your personal development and growth. If you do not demonstrate your intellectual drive, and a growing capacity, you may well be left behind.
Don Moore and Joe Gausman recently presented a full-day succession workshop in Ridgway that was hosted by the North Central Commission and the NWIRC. If you are interested in a workshop, please contact our office.
Peer Group Opportunities Decision Associates currently facilitates two active Peer Groups – one comprised of eight small manufacturing and service business owners, and the other includes an equal number of the heirs to family-owned businesses. The interest has been very strong and we now have additional groups forming for a September 2010 launch in the following broad categories:
We can guarantee that you will be challenged … if you are interested in receiving more information, please contact us today! What are they saying about Decision Associates' Peer Groups:
What's on Your Mind… Send your suggestions for future topics of interest to: SueMoore@DecisionAssociates.net.
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Let me start with the end in mind: Every CEO/owner/executive director, regardless of your industry or non-profit sector, should belong to a Peer Group. Doing so will reward you far in excess of the commitment of time or cost. Every person I’ve ever known who was a member of a Peer Group would repeat this advice.
Whether you realize it, or not … and whether you like it, or not … the development and growth of your organization is inextricably linked to your personal development and growth. And at virtually every level, personal development and growth demand a thirst for learning; and a willingness to be intellectually challenged and held accountable.
Our structure includes an intentional balance of planned and spontaneous topical discussions, assigned readings and exercises, talks by outside experts and one-on-one coaching/mentoring support. The groups meet for one-half day monthly; and our facilitators are seasoned business owners that understand the issues and challenges.
1540 East Lake Road | Suite 100 | Erie, PA 16511 | Phone: 814.528.9402 | Fax: 814.528.9401