Has your business been hijacked? Here are 7 signs to watch out for.

“Building a visionary company requires one percent vision and 99 percent alignment.” —Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, Built to Last

The most impactful person in any business, or business area, is the person who has the power to dictate what direction it actually heads in. This can apply to anyone in top level management who has been given autonomy in their relevant areas of control.

Ensuring that a business and its associated divisions are heading in the right direction (best for the business) is critical to sustainability and profitability. In a lean economy, no business can afford to head the wrong way. Everyone has to be heading in the same direction, at the very least.

So how do you know if the person who has been entrusted with the keys (and the steering wheel) is actually heading in the direction they are supposed to?

Here are 7 signs to watch out for. The more signs that simultaneously exist, the greater the probability that a business or division has been inadvertently 'hijacked' and is off course.

Sign #1 The numbers don't add up.

As all business analysts or chartered accountants will tell you, if the numbers do not add up, they simply do not add up. The most significant formula in any business is the profit formula. If your development costs are too high then you will have to charge your clients proportionately more to recover the costs in order to make the business viable. No amount of smooth talking or visionary, positive, 'entrepreneurial' lingo can invent additional income or miraculously reduce costs. But analysts are seen as being 'negative' or 'cynical' so are often dismissed.

Sign #2 Similar issues are consistently raised by a diverse range of people

Problems are a fact of life. Each person will interpret and react to the same problem differently. This is why, when only one person in any team has an issue, it is most likely their issue and may not be significant. But when a diverse range of personalities in different teams start saying the same thing, it is highly probable that the problem is legitimate. Simply attributing this situation to 'group think' and therefore justifiably dismissible, is extremely dangerous.

Sign #3 The person 'in charge' has the knack of appeasing issues without ever resolving them

Charismatic and dominant personalities are renowned for their persuasive abilities. They can be charming, authoritative, and effusive. Under their spell it is easy to believe that a unicorn is possible and even probable. For all their charisma, if immediate action - in the direction the business actually requires - does not follow their words (and that appeases the analysts), you are in very real danger of being charmed into oblivion.

Sign #4 : Low trust, fear or toxic culture

The moment people keep quiet when they are asked a direct question or for their opinion, they have subconsciously chosen to hide the truth for fear of persecution. It is human nature to protect and is therefore very uncommon for people to speak out at their own cost or on behalf of those they like. If they do, it is normally at the cost of someone they dislike and are happy to 'throw under the bus'. In other words, in low trust environments people are punished for getting things wrong and in toxic environments individuals are even punished or persecuted for what a superior gets wrong.

Sign #5 Trusted experts start disengaging (keeping quiet) or resigning

Experts or specialists are brought in because of their trusted expertise. These can be in the form of partners, consultants or high net worth employees. The moment their advice is no longer followed or appreciated (their expertise is not trusted) they will either remain quiet about what they believe needs to be done, or leave. The most alarming sign is when these experts are actively 'pushed out' by the 'Commander in Chief.'

Sign #6 The employment of 'yes men'

The quickest way to drive home an agenda is to ensure that everyone around the table is in agreement. The tactical employment of 'yes men' is a subtle way to achieve this. Yes, everyone is now in agreement, dissenters have been excommunicated and HR is happy that everything appears amicable, but the business has now been completely 'hijacked'.

Sign #7 Ego

A true leader has natural confidence and humility. They do not need to protect, defend or justify themselves. They have a high EQ and are comfortable with diverse opinion and ways of doing things and are secure under criticism. The moment any form of self defence, feeling 'attacked' or undermined starts playing out, pay very careful attention. It can suggest that they see their position as an extension of their ego as opposed to seeing the position as an act of responsibility. If this is indeed the case, then they will be subconsciously making decisions to protect the ego at the cost of the business. This could prove fatal.

In my experience as a consultant looking at the impact of personalities on a business over the last 10 years, whenever these 7 signs are simultaneously present, the result down the line has been everything from expensive ineptness and mediocrity to complete failure and bankruptcy.

I welcome your comments and experiences.