Owners/CEOs-- Are you getting "Handled"?

By Joe McKee

Who is really in charge of your business?

“Jane handles all that.” Business owners keep telling me this. Jane, Bob, Vince-- the names are interchangeable but there is often someone in an organization who “handles all that.” They are the owner/CEO’s right-hand-(wo)man, the go-to person, second in command.

The problem is oftentimes the second in command is the one actually in command!

For one client in crisis, I discovered the most powerful person in the business was a part-time office manager! He was very capable, but it was misplaced authority.

Managers are necessary but many small business owners/CEOs stumble when it comes to managing their managers-- they forget that the number one responsibility of their top people is to keep the boss informed. Too often I find a part of a company’s culture includes don't bother the boss thinking. This can literally strangle a business.

Businesses do not have the time-- nor cash-- to be chasing distractions and putting out fires when things go astray. If you spend your time putting out fires, it signals that decisions are being made that don’t align with your company's goals.

The good news is there are some simple ways to fix this...

A. The 3-Question Daily Standup: For many service organizations (IT, construction, trades) get your managers together for 15-30 minutes every day. The agenda is three-questions: 1)“In order of priority, what are you working on now; 2) what’s the status, and 3) what do you need to get it done?” That’s it. Everything else should be discussed after the meeting/call. The first few ones you do might run longer but once you get into the routine, the meetings can be short & sweet.

B. The Weekly Hit List-- Done's and Not Done's: If you do a weekly meeting then try this: with your managers do a quick rundown of their tasks that were supposed to be completed that week. Don't "discuss" why things are not done in meetings-- do that after the meeting-- in the meeting just get a done/not done list-- and the things not done become the hit list for next week's meeting. Once you know what's not getting done, you'll know what to focus on as the owner/CEO.

C. Crash other meetings but duct-tape your mouth shut: Go find out what’s happening by crashing some meetings but don’t say a word; just sit in the back and listen. You’ll be amazed by what you learn about your company, team, and customers. One client took this literally and showed up in a staff meeting with his mouth taped shut! His team loved it.

These are just a few simple strategies for the business owner/CEO to stay well-informed and in command. Of course you can’t do everything; but you must ensure that what is being done every day aligns with your goals.

Bottom line: if you have someone in your organization who “handles all that” then you-- as owner/CEO-- are getting “handled". Decisions are made by those who show up, and if poor decisions are being made in your company, take a hard look at who is making them.

Are your top people keeping you informed or are they "handling you?" Successful owners/CEOs that I've worked with know exactly what's going on in their business-- without getting bogged down. It sounds simple for small to medium sized business, but it isn't.

What are the ways you stay informed?

Joe McKee is a business mechanic helping frustrated small business owners/CEOs get things fixed and moving in the right direction... rapidly.

www.dhirubhai.net/in/joemckee | about.me/joemckee