“Build a strong foundation and you can reach even the most unthinkable heights.”
– M.J. Moores
Friends of mine had a beautiful large tree in front of their home. It provided wonderful shade with gorgeous branches. The tree sat proudly complimenting their front yard.
Unfortunately, harsh storms came along and blew the tree down. As the tree’s limbs were sawed into logs, it was discovered that although it was a beautiful tree its roots were rotted. It broke my friend’s heart to lose that tree. But it was inevitable with such rotted roots.
That tree symbolizes an assumingly robust organization. Someone looking on would see the organization full of beauty and excellence while in reality, it won’t stand the test of time…its foundation is unstable (rotted).
Building a strong, firm operational foundation within an Organization:
- Provides the baseline in which to function
- Allows organizations to focus on the business’s products and/or services instead of resolving daily disasters
- Creates opportunities to innovate instead of being bogged down with fighting fires
- Positions Leaders to define and execute the Organization’s strategy
How does an Organization build a solid foundation? Here are some hints:
- Establish clearly defined goals and objectives and create a plan that defines the tasks needed to support them
- Prioritize those tasks so they can be effectively implemented
- Communicate, communicate, communicate
- Build repeatable processes
- Maximize Resources
- Establish internal control and mitigate risks
- Focus on ongoing, improved results
- Implement (or update) a Business Continuity Plan
Does your organization have a solid foundation?