Learning from Disorganisation

One of our clients acquired a division that had many hidden problems. We made the following observations .

Staff selection is mission-critical but it is not the only requirement. Ongoing development is equally important as it is rare to find people who are fully able and willing for every task that needs to be undertaken.

People with management potential cannot achieve management capability without honing their abilities by performing effectively / efficiently, despite difficulties. Special sensitivities need to be acquired. Frequent, informed guidance is needed. Step-by-step progress needs to be facilitated. Feedback, the breakfast of champions, must be embedded in a culture of achievement. Inadequacy cannot be become ‘the normal’. Unless good people develop they become jaded. People desire to grow and fulfil their potential and they will seek an environment in which this is a core value.

Without a depth of managerial prowess, it is not possible to do big or complicated things well.

It is important to discover where strengths can be found and analyse, in depth, what enabled success. It is also important to recognise that addressing weaknesses weakly is a royal road to degeneration and to resolve not to repeat this elemental error. 

Painful learning must not be lost. It needs to be transformed into wisdom.