Wouldn’t you agree that successful businesses grow, are financially strong, and have integrated sales, marketing and operations? Wouldn’t you also agree that when these are combined with superior leadership, teams, and employees that develop and implement good planning, that businesses will be top performers?

Why then, do so many businesses fail to be more successful? During this challenging economic recovery period, what opportunities for improvement might they be missing? As business owners lead their company through this economic recovery period, which of these factors are most important? You might be surprised how many of my executive coaching and business consulting clients had not thought about the importance of these business functions to their business health and success.

Actually, all these factors are important, and, if integrated properly, help drive your business success. Over the next several articles I will look at several of the ways that you can "take the temperature" of your business by visiting the health office and performing a "health check".  

 
Let’s get oriented. The accompanying chart illustrates a diagnostic scan of one of my business clients. I will reference the chart in each article to illustrate how, with all systems healthy, a business will be able to achieve its success.

First, let’s examine the business owner and management team’s personal perspective. I explained to my client and his senior management team that we would look at the number of hours each of them works, whether or not they maintain and use a goal and task setting process, whether they plan and execute their plan daily, and develop, maintain, and achieve their personal goals. The each asked me why this was important. I asked them who was leading the company, driving the mission, vision and business purpose. They nodded, at first in nervous agreement, but as we discussed it further, they became clear for this need. Their scores – we use a 1 to 5 scale, 1 is not so good, and 5 is excellent; my client and his senior managers scored themselves a 3.2 in this category, a 64% rating.

As with each of my clients I worked through the development of an action plan with the senior management team to address how they might bring each of these assessed areas up to a level 4, or 80%. As their executive coach and business advisor it was especially heartening to see each member of the "team" work together to come to agreement on each of the action steps needed. And, with my prodding and encouragement, they set time frames and specific, measurable objectives for each.

In our next article we will discuss planning, leadership, and team utilization. Oh, by the way, if at any time you feel a little queasy, the Doctor will make house calls.