‘Business Wholeness’ – Useful Remedy for Empowered Leaders

‘Business Wholeness’ – Useful Remedy for Empowered Leaders

What would it feel like to live in a dysfunctional family, get up and face the world everyday, pretending that nothing is wrong? It would most certainly work for a period of time, but at some point the internal cracks would begin to show. At some point the world would not only notice, but be affected by what is beginning to spill out of them.  

Now, for how long the business model of ‘let’s-focus-on-the-outside-and-pretend-that-the-inside-is-just-fine’ has been present in many organisations around the world? None of what was really going on within an organisation mattered, for as long as the sales quotas were achieved. How foolish were we to think that frustrated employees would have enough integrity to keep internal issues from affecting the customers!

How would you know if your company is affected? Here is a quick checklist:

  • is the majority of your staff frustrated?
  • is the majority of your staff unmotivated and underperforming?
  • Is the majority of your staff frustrated and underperforming and you are not aware of it?
  • is there unhealthy interdepartamental competition going on, affecting the delivery of their projects and the revenue of the company?
  • what is the level of personal conflict between employees and staff-management?

So much has been written about the importance of looking at the ‘Self’, looking inside before attempting to tackle anything in the external parameters of life. Could it be that it also holds true for companies as much as it does for individuals? Could it be that the internal level of harmony, where every member of every team has the exact same understanding of the direction the company is moving toward, who appreciates and takes full responsibility for the personal role he/she has in the delivery of that goal, could it be that all of that has a direct effect on the overall of the company? Well, for me this is a rhetorical question.

At first it may seem like an overwhelming task to create more ‘wholeness’ within an organisation. And trust me, it is not good enough if just the management go through that process. If the sickness has spread into the entire body of the company, all parts need to be addressed. A ‘detox’ is usually what comes first into mind of those in charge and very often mistakes are made when letting people go without much consideration.

What’s a good point to start then? Well, you will go nowhere, unless you have a plan of where you want to get.

  • Step one is then to draw up the end result, the ‘when’ and ‘where’ you see the company in the future in terms of its new level of ‘wholeness’.
  • Step two is to take stock of where you are at present. Honesty and staff input play a big part here. The greater your
    understanding of your current situation, the more chances you have to actually remedy it.
  • Step three is then all down to designing a plan of action, specific steps that will bring the organisation in the direction you want it to head to. Giving voice to all of your staff members is crucial. Remember that they have access to and experience of many aspects of the company that you are unaware of. They are often, as a result a great source of
    information and inspiration, if allowed to voice their opinions. By consulting with them directly, you are already in the process of creating effective communication channel and validating your staff! Now is also time to consider
    what level of detox is appropriate. Again, staff input is crucial. No-one should be excluded from going under the loop. Too many managers get on too well with the Big Boss, while having lousy relationships with their
    subordinates due to their poor or non-existing managerial skills.
  • Finally agree on regular measuring of the progress the company is making. If you get the required results, you know you are heading in a new direction! If not, adjust accordingly!

You will end up creating a new company, with devoted, committed employees who will show up every day at work and deliver, not because they have to, but because they feel personally compelled to! Could that affect your sales figures? I wonder?