Words of wisdom for this week.
“Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.”
– Thomas A. Edison
What is corporate disconnect? They have either heard something about it from someone who attended one of my Corporate Disconnect seminars or read about it on the internet. So, corporate Disconnect is;
- When the realities that exist at the lower levels of an organization and in the market place do not find their way to the highest levels of the organization – where direction is set, goals are established, vision is created and major decisions are made – with accuracy, continuity, clarity and consistency.
- When the vision, purpose, direction and leadership at the highest levels of an organization do not accurately radiate throughout the entire organization with integrity, accuracy, clarity, accountability and consistency.
- When lack of corporate-wide congruence negatively impacts sales, profits, effectiveness and consistently healthy growth.
In summary Corporate Disconnect is when your employees who do the work (at the 500ft. level) don’t see a connection of their efforts to the vision of senior management. It’s when senior management makes decisions or takes actions at the 40,000-foot level – new policies, new products or services, acquisitions, new divisions or branches, new anything – and they do it without getting in touch with the reality that exists and is well known at the 500 ft. level.
Got a case of CD in your organization? Here’s a little truth to consider. In my 40-year speaking and training career, I haven’t found a single organization that didn’t have some degree of CD going on. So, it would appear that having a case of CD is normal. Yes, every company has it to some extent.
Here’s the bottom line. No matter how bad your case of CD is or whether you are aware of it, fixing it, ignoring it – whatever, as long as your CD doesn’t ever touch your customer or the market place, there is no critical problem; you will most likely survive the CD’s symptoms. However, if your CD does touch your customers, suppliers, the marketplace and/or your prospects, watch out. You may be in for a long and difficult recovery period with a few emergency room visits along the way.
So, now you know what CD is. Want to know how bad you have it – whether you need surgery or over-the-counter meds? Take time to complete my CD questionnaire. Then you will know. If you want the questionnaire order a copy of the book Corporate Disconnect today. If you don’t think it’s one of the best books you have read in years, I’ll refund your investment. Just go to CorporateDisconnect.com.