Can You Smell the Change?

Smell the fresh air

Often organizations, and especially senior managers, need to get out more rather than spending endless time in meetings with colleagues or networking with peers. Useful as these activities can be, they also can drive mind-sets about what's possible and not possible. I was asked by the respected CEO of a foundation recently to benchmark its grant-making processes with other foundations for speed and efficiency.

"Easy," I said. "You're the best." The CEO blushed with pride until I had to add, "But everyone else is dire." Instead I suggested the organization compare itself to credit card companies — how quickly would they process support for a good "credit-worthy" risk? (Average loan decision … one day. Average grant decision … three months.) Make sure you get out and smell the fresh air of different approaches.

Avoid the easy platitudes about being "a learning organization" unless you mean it and put in the same commitment as Red Cross and Save the Children. Be pragmatic in the same way as you ignore most of the lifestyle advice outlined earlier. And unlock the bloodhound in you to track the changes you need to make. FS

Bernard Ross is director of The Management Centre and author of the Bernard Ross Blog. Reach him at b.ross@managementcentre.co.uk or follow him on Twitter at @bernardrossmc.