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In Business Or Just Playing At It?

17 April 2011

I’ve had three contrasting situations this week which have reminded me that it’s easy to overlook difficult decisions, or to avoid difficult conversations.

Business is fun and yet it has it’s darker side too…where we have to take tough decisions and deal with tricky situations.

Facing up to reality is what separates the sheep from the lambs and we all have to do it sometimes.

Here are three little vignettes for you to consider:

1) I have downsized my car this week to a cheaper and more economical Volvo (which I’m very pleased with). Much as I loved my Audi, my driving patterns have changed and it felt like my business now had a Director sat there drinking my coffee and doing less work. The car had to go.

2) A colleague has an under-performing supervisor and has been keeping his fingers crossed that he’ll ‘improve soon’. So far he’s waited six months, to no avail. I suggested that his waiting was becoming part of the problem. He’s talking with the supervisor next week.

3) A friend who is out of her depth and needs support had been passive about creating sales meetings. Selling can be tough and scary and daunting, but if you can’t sell you probably shouldn’t be running your own business. The trick is to make it feel safe by taking small steps and only doing one scary thing at a time. Too much is overload. She now has a simple plan, that combines easy activities with a bit of personal stretch.

If you’re in business and have an elephant in the room, car on the drive, or member of staff under-performing what are you going do to about it?

The sheep are in business, whereas the lambs think they are, but in reality are just playing at it.

….If you’re worried then talk to someone and share your concens. Or give me a call and we can combine business problem solving with cake.

After all, tough talk can be tasty talk..!

Tags: cake, tip