Why business growth is like riding a bike
Business is like riding a bicycle. To keep balance you have to keep moving forward. Customers come and go, technology and the competitive landscape change and, without growth, the business wobbles.
Successful growth needs both healthy business growth and personal growth.
But whilst healthy business growth is necessary to grow cash, margins and competitive advantage, personal growth is optional and happens at an individual’s own pace.
“So why is that important?”
Personal growth can lag behind business growth and hold it back. Growing business needs people who are confident and capable to either:
“So why is that important?” Personal growth can lag behind business growth and hold it back. Growing business needs people who are confident and capable to either:
Personal growth can lag behind business growth and hold it back. Growing business needs people who are confident and capable to either:
- Take on more responsibility within their existing role
- Manage a team to ensure dependable delivery of a specific function
- Move more into leadership setting vision, direction and growing a positive culture that supports trust, teamwork and brand difference.
In the same way the business cannot stand still, the business cannot afford for people to stand still.
Whatever role they play, everyone needs clearly defined expectations including required goals and standards, pre-agreed boundaries that can gradually be expanded, a free reign to deliver within the above and support as necessary. Often this basic foundation is lacking.
However even when that foundation is in place, emotional readiness for personal growth in the form of new roles, sharing control with uncertain outcomes and allowing others to move forward, sometimes ahead of us, may not be.
And when we feel unsure or that uncomfortable clench in chest and higher heart rate, our brain’s hard-wiring defaults our thinking and behaviours to focus on our own self-defence and keep us safe by hanging onto the illusion of control, protecting what we already have. That’s why personal growth can be difficult and happens at our own pace.”So what’s The Growth Paradox?” strings_font_style=”font-weight:bold;”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Business Growth paradox is that business survival needs us to override our hard-wired thinking and behaviours that otherwise default us into defensive personal survival. That’s why personal growth can be difficult and happens at our own pace.
“So what’s The Growth Paradox?” The Business Growth paradox is that business survival needs us to override our hard-wired thinking and behaviours that otherwise default us into defensive personal survival. That’s why personal growth can be difficult and happens at our own pace.
The Business Growth paradox is that business survival needs us to override our hard-wired thinking and behaviours that otherwise default us into defensive personal survival. That’s why personal growth can be difficult and happens at our own pace.
The bottom line is, if personal growth lags behind what the business needs, we are, often inadvertently, standing in the way of business growth.”How will I know?” strings_font_style=”font-weight:bold;”][vc_column_text]Business performance is objectively measured and externally monitored by customers and banks to name but a few. We put on our best performance for the outside world.
“How will I know?”
Business performance is objectively measured and externally monitored by customers and banks to name but a few. We put on our best performance for the outside world.
Meanwhile, inside the business, and sometimes just in between our ears, the signs of lagging personal growth are loud, frustrating and very costly including:
| · Lack of focus, motivation or clarity. | · Lack of trust and accountability. |
| · Poor communication and productivity. | · Declining wellbeing and relationships. |
| · “Them” and “Us” silos – poor teamwork. | · Explosive temper or personal withdrawal. |
| · Avoidance of honest conversations. | · Negative, judgmental or critical self-talk. |
| · The Blame Game – “not my fault”. | · Procrastination. |
“So what can I do?”
A positive first step is understanding our fear, the feelings they elicit and their underlying drivers:
- Fear – unless I’m involved, it’ll go wrong. Feelings – scared, anxious. Driver – I care and am passionate that this succeeds.
- Fear – if someone else does this part of my role, I’ll be redundant. Feelings – insecurity, worthlessness. Driver – I want to be valued and valuable.
- Fear – my ideas will be criticised. Feelings – vulnerability, shame. Driver – I want to make a positive difference.
- Fear – if I can’t do this new role I’ll be cast out. Feelings – overwhelmed, lack of self-worth. Driver – I want to be part of this.
“Choice” When I’m in self-defence, my thinking and focus is purely on fight, flight or freeze which severely limits my performance. This can be as much as 90% of the time.
When I’m in self-defence, my thinking and focus is purely on fight, flight or freeze which severely limits my performance. This can be as much as 90% of the time.
Understanding my drivers gives me heightened self-awareness and greater perspective turning mountains into molehills which makes me more relaxed and rational. As my blood supply is freed from fight, flight or freeze to flow to my brain again, from this relaxed, higher perspective, alternative options and sources of support come into view that I couldn’t previously see.
I now have choice. All I need is the courage, commitment and support to act.
“So, how do I make the leap?”
The simplest way is to learn from and with others at the Four Times More® workshops where I share how to earn £2.4m more from the same business.
“In 2016, who will support you to overcome The Growth Paradox?”
“My business has grown over 600% to £5.5m turnover in the 2 1/2 years since working with Angela.” Russ Stilwell, MD, RSE Building Services.
“[Angela] you have great insight” Angus Thirlwell, CEO and Founder, Hotel Chocolat and interviewee in ‘How To Fly High’.
About the author: Angela Dellar is a professionally qualified business growth and leadership coach specialising in the personal growth of individuals, teams, and boards. She facilitates business growth using a lifetime of proven, practical experience of business and leadership.
