Many companies are in a crisis of their own doing, yet most don’t even see it.
Yes, customers always need our focus. Companies must do everything they can to first improve customer satisfaction and then build true customer loyalty, but that’s not the biggest problem.
And yes, competitors—both traditional and non-traditional—are always threats. Both are utilizing technology to speed up their ability to innovate and make quick changes to challenge your company in the market. But the biggest problem doesn’t lie there either.
Sure, cost pressure is constant. Whether cost management is needed primarily to meet market prices, deliver adequate margins, or to minimize losses, it is always a top priority. But it’s never the #1 issue.
The biggest problem costs business an estimated $7 TRILLION worldwide according to Gallup.
Culture is the real culprit.
Employees are not coming to work with the energy, clarity, or confidence to maximize their influence and impact. Even with the best of intentions, companies are not adequately focused on improving this crisis. Gallup estimates between seven and nine out of 10 workers are “mailing it in” at work.
What’s the fix?
I use the term cascading Chiefs to describe the desperately needed antidote.
Here’s why I use the term. My definition of a Chief is everyone who has the energy, clarity, and confidence to maximize their influence and impact. This can apply to anyone and is completely independent of title or position. Research has shown that these Chiefs offer a positivity that’s actually contagious.
And while it’s important to hire great people so they can help increase the engagement of other employees in a side-to-side manner that I call viral engagement, there is also a need for top-down choices to accelerate engagement.
That’s why I use the term cascading, which means “pouring down rapidly and in large quantities.”
Those at the top of organizations need to immediately look at ALL levers available to them to dramatically increase the number of employees who feel engaged. These include a fresh look at compensation, education, recognition, performance management, promotion, communication, and decentralized decision making.
With appropriate attention, I’ve seen cascading Chiefs quickly spread their positive ripple effect throughout million- and billion-dollar organizations, and provide a foundation for customer loyalty, competitive differentiation, and cost controls that deliver amazing and sustainable growth.
Now that you see it, what’s next?