The achievement of excellence can occur only if the organization promotes a culture of creative dissatisfaction.
– Lawrence Miller, Business person
I’ve found that senior executives don’t understand and can’t articulate today’s business paradigm shifts. They know things have fundamentally changed. They know their competitive rules are different. But, do they know what they’re going to do, besides reducing head-count?
Ask them to explain how they’re going respond? There’s the 1000-yard stare or the BS canned answer. I simply believe they don’t know how to make their numbers, which may be their financial targets, because of marketplace changes, customer concerns, and organizational transformations. Again, their business rules and competitive context have changed so quickly and radically. Company executives are usually very smart people, who have survived and excelled in numerous business wars. Now, they seem confused and too often rudderless.
Traditionally, senior management, at the vice presidential or business unit level, would operate autonomously to make their numbers. I think one reason why they’re confused is now the solutions are going to be more interdisciplinary, more global, and require innovative processes.
‘Making your numbers’ is simply another way for saying performance management and accountability management is a critical personal attribute. “Do as you say and say as you do” Even senior executives are confused as how to lead, manage, and ‘make their numbers.’ If they don’t make their numbers, then the fear is that they too may be expendable. Harsh truths in a harsh economy.
Life Lesson Earned: Know what you need to do to ‘make your numbers.’ Your job will depend on it.