Are you addressing Unhinged doors?

“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices.”—Betsy Jacobson. 

Current State

The world is out of balance.

Period.

The Ukraine-Russia Conflict. Lockdown in China leading to major container based logistics problems being faced throughout the world. The Afghanistan-Pakistan unrest. Israel-Palestine problems restarting again. The US Economy taking a dive. And the world still reeling from the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As per a scientific brief released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%. Add to this the increase in substance abuse and ideation of suicide, we really need to do something drastic to stop this downward spiral.

Business Realities

Because of Covid, lockdown, and the newly found dynamic of work from home (WFH), several businesses have shut down. Some of those which have survived have changed their business model and processes on how they conduct businesses. Some others have been lucky to have their old processes keep on working - some well, some just trundling along.

However, the environment that the businesses used to operate in have changed. And unless businesses change in order to operate in the new environment, it will be difficult for them to grow.

While running a program for business owners, I would use a metaphor for swimming. The first time swimmer struggles to survive in a swimming pool, then ze learns to float - happily in a swimming pool, but put zer in a flowing river and ze will go where the river takes zer. Once ze learns to thrive, ze will be comfortable even across rivers with strong currents and seas. Similarly, businesses too are found in one of these three states - surviving, floating or thriving.

Survive. As per studies by the United Nations Council for Trade and Development run Empretec, less than 3% organisations survive the first three years of being in business. Businesses which struggle to break even for a while have had their owners just give up and take up a job. Survival means hitting the break even point and surpassing it consistently. Once that happens more than less, the business moves into the second stage, to float.

Float. When the business gets its act together, it works in an auto-mode. With the environment being conducive, everyone does their bit and the business 'floats.' Makes enough money to be comfortable but to do that the business owner puts in full days of work - takes minimal days off and spends most of zer time in putting out fires.

Thrive. This is when the business is 'in balance.' It works like a 'well oiled machine' and makes course corrections with the changes in environment. Like Distilleries making Hand Sanitisers during covid and opening up another (although temporary) revenue stream. Businesses when they are balanced, thrive, that is make enough money to grow, and the business owner can take off on leave with family without worrying about sundry fires.

Unhinged Doors

The problem that needs to be addressed are what we call 'unhinged doors.'

Unhinged doors are the ones which are difficult to open and to shut. They neither give you the safety of a locked door, nor the accessibility that an open door provides. What it causes is a hindrance to free flow on one hand and leakage on the other.

'Unhinged doors' are usually processes which have outlived their utility and are now a hindrance to the system. 'Unhinged doors' also stem from poor organisational culture and from interpersonal conflicts.

Each person thinks that they are right (and if others differ, that those are wrong). Good organisations are those whose culture is not the binary I am right-You are wrong, but seeking the best option amongst all. This change in 'culture,' 'attitude' and 'communication' tightens the hinges and reclaim the authenticity of the door and improve free flow of communication and stop leakage of positivity.

Push and Pull

The first action that we take when encountered with an unhinged door is either pull or push. And that's when things fall apart. Before jumping in and attempting to self heal, it is imperative to figure out where the problem lies. And address the problem in the correct sequence.

Human Beings don't have 'press-fit' solutions.

And businesses are all about human beings.

Stakeholders are human beings, so are employees and customers. And human beings communicate with one another to get the other do what you want them too. There is thus a constant push and pull between people, between departments, between organisations and between employees and prospective customers. If it is a constant pull, then you are exerting too much, if it is a constant push, you are resisting too much. Therefore there has to be balance.

Back in Balance

Unless you have balance, you will either be in survival mode or float along completely at the mercy of the environment. Thus, if you do find yourself disbalanced and operating with unhinged doors, STOP.

Relook at everything in your business. From the business plan, the accounting equation, the people and the processes.

Better still, get professional help. After all, the reason human beings have thrived for so long is because we have used each others strengths to grow further.

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As the saying goes, two heads are better than one, and the Balance Driven Business philosophy is the solution that will help your organization to keep pace in this new world of business— the ever-increasing speed in which business adaptations need to occur to realign people, product, and profit. Col Sudip Mukerjee of Reserv3 Consulting and Sean Lewis of SLC Advisory Group combine their specialties for the deep dive needed to bring your business up to datewith the finance and people challenges of the New World, and to lay the groundwork for staying competitive well into the future.