At the Top Isolation:
So whom do you turn to when you need an objective sounding board? What if you just need support, reassurance or acknowledgment that you are not the first business owner or executive dealing with these issues? Your first thought may be to talk it over with a professional advisor (accountant, attorney), maybe a friend or family member? Can they give you clear, impartial feedback? Can they separate their business and personal agendas from yours? An owner or executive discussing, with the same people, the business and what is going on in it, can end up using the same thought process or solutions to problem solve. There is no opportunity for fresh perspective. Everyone knows about networking to find new customers or make contacts that will lead to referrals. Participation in professional affiliations, civic organizations, leads groups are ways an owner or executive can increase the business' visibility. The same technique can be used to find business peers. However, the objective with these business-peer contacts is different. Seek individuals who are in similar businesses as well as unrelated businesses. Talking with owners from other industries can even be very useful, because their industries may require different approaches in dealing with issues. If your business is manufacturing products, find someone who also manufactures. The agenda for connecting with them is to have a business relationship that is based on a mutual interest in helping improve the respective businesses. Have a willingness to share experiences of what has been tried, what has worked. Meet on a frequent basis, perhaps a couple of times a month off site - away from phones, distractions and interruptions, maybe for breakfast or lunch. Come to the meeting with a specific idea or issue to be resolved. Focus the time on support, encouragement and even once in a while, accountability. Having a business peer relationship to rely on when you are feeling alone can be very powerful and rewarding. Knowing there is someone, who cares about your business and is interested in its success, encourages your creative process to think more often, "what if". The fresh air from the outside perspective can be a catalyst for rejuvenating and improving business practices, providing you with more efficient operations and more satisfaction from owning or managing a company. ©2000-present Flight Unlimited - All Rights Reserved |
At the Top Isolation is a phrase frequently used to describe the environment in which business owners and executives operate. As the leader of any enterprise, there are times when it is not appropriate to discuss in-house or industry problems with employees. To do so, may impact company morale or breach confidentiality. Or perhaps, no one including yourself has the experience to cope with the issues. In this isolated environment, most owners and executives limit themselves by not accessing resources that would either broaden their information base or give them support during the decision-making process.
