IMPROVEMENT WHILE RIVALS
REINVENT THE INDUSTRY IS
LIKE FIDDLING WHILE
ROME BURNS.”
IS YOUR
COMPANY
BEACHED ?
21
IT’S TIME TO UNBEACH
AND SWIM INTO
THE NEW OCEAN.
BEACHED
23
RAGING AGAINST
THE MACHINE
Walk around your company and see how
many Dilbert cartoons are posted on bulletin
boards, in offices, or outside office doors.
This is ALWAYS an indicator to me that employees are raging
against the bureaucracy machine. They are trying to tell their
leaders something. If you have a large display of Dilbert
cartoons around your office, your company is beached.
UNBEACH
Stop at every cubicle and ask them to share what the particular
cartoon displayed means to them and how they have experienced
it at your company. Ask them to share their frustrations with the
company, leadership, etc.
Really listen.
Ask for a list of changes they would implement if they were able
to that would make the company stronger and less bureaucratic.
Ask what you could do right now that would help them feel
differently about the company.
25
DE-DILBERT
BEACHED
When people say …
“Living the dream”
at work, it generally means they work
at a beached whale company.
27
A HOUSE DIVIDED
Whether you’re an entrepreneur who owns a company or an
executive or leader who works in one, you can hear the culture
in the words people use. Listen to how many times the following
phrases are used around your company…
When I frequently hear these phrases around a company, I can
be certain the company is beached. They describe a company
where playing politics is the key to success. They describe a
company where ideas are weighed based on who has the
power and authority to squish them, instead of on the merits
of the idea. They reflect a company where different parts
of the company are “at war” for resources and attention.
Stepping on toes
Choose your battles
Don’t buck the system
Do you want to die
on that hill?
They…
The powers that be
Dead in the water
Don’t rock the boat
UNBEACH
29
Examine what is at the heart of this “we are at war with each
other” or “what’s the point?” mentality within your company
and address it.
Look at the management structure and philosophy and consider
how it exacerbates this “house divided against itself” philosophy.
Find the origination and heart of this thinking and put a stake
through it—with malice.
Wage War on division and commit to creating a company of
progressive thinkers who love what they do and do what
they love—be the change.
COME TOGETHER,
RIGHT NOW
BEACHED
THE
THEM
THEY
31
PRONOUN
