My biggest fear, whilst running an SME business for over 17 years, was finding out about issues and problems from my management team TOO LATE.
A lot of time and energy was wasted on dealing with issues that should never have been allowed to grow into catastrophic problems. It raises questions of trust in your management team, and it zaps your energy as a leader.
Today, in a world of such uncertainty and nervousness, TRUST in business, is more important than ever. Understandably the bringer of bad news will hold back if the organisational structure is built on weak foundations of trust. The resulting outcome for the business could be crippling.
The trick is how to create a positive approach to tackling issues and problems without opening the flood gates to moans and groans.
My simple solution to dealing with this crucial area was to create a safe space to talk about challenges and issues running through every aspect of the business through regular 1-2-1’s and Management Team meetings. From an SME business leader’s point of view these meetings are the conduit for taking the pulse of what is going on in the business and using each manager meeting to direct the actions needed to head-off the dark clouds that might be gathering. It does, however, require the issues to be raised. Being given a “heads-up,” whether it was to me, or me to a manager, ensured we remained in control, proactive and steering the ship forward.
If you want to know how to build TRUST in your business – welcome the sharing of issues from the shop floor – up, and leadership – down. Stand with your arms metaphorically out wide and encourage communication flow. It works whatever the size of organisation.
Create a simple framework for the manager and team to capture and process the issues. It is a simple but extremely effective method of saying – “Yes, we know sh*t happens from time to time, but we can sort it if we have time, and everyone is listening.” Put the Issue Lists on the agendas of all the key, regular meetings.
Cloud-Busting Tips!
Embrace the issues! Keep calm and be grateful you know now.
Create a safe space to discuss! Keep interrogations in private, make notes if you feel yourself wanting to explode or implode! Now is the time to lead not kick-off.
Build a problem-solving culture! Post-it notes, whiteboards, get people involved, use decision-making frameworks. There is always a solution.
Lead the way by being open and putting your issues on the list! It’s ok not to have all the answers! Having challenges to deal with is not the same as being weak and not capable.
