This morning (Thursday), my colleague and I sat discussing cost strategies for certain clients and were trying to figure out how to increase revenue streams from certain areas and certain clients. It’s weird that in these tough economic times, we are beginning to hear financial organizations making money again (Goldman Sachs have paid off their $10bn government loan and made $3.5bn profit in the last quarter alone, if you haven’t heard). Working/servicing in the same industry, we need to have foresight of where our clients are going and which areas we could target to get them spending on software again.
While my colleague tried to break things down from the client perspective, I tried to take it a step lower and focused on our internal issues. We as a relatively small company have hell of a lot of work happening at the moment; however, our revenue seems to be drying up on a month by month basis. Pretty often there are a lot of tedious and lengthy projects, and they don’t quite challenge you a great deal (depends on your definition of challenge ofcourse!). However, there is still a job there to be done, and deliveries to be made on target.
Internally within the organization, we have a lot of areas which are overworked and under resourced, however in areas where there is a decent balance, there is a LOT of mismanagement too. Turns out that these teams are at times strategic to the progress of projects and it is in these areas where we are failing to capitalize on our strengths and grasp the initiative to focus on delivering stronger.
I wrote a little something about this area of the business in February ’09, and suffice to say that there isn’t any progress in the last 6 months or so. The shortsightedness in people always makes them notice the one or two quick wins and ride that wave when it happens, but the same people are not ready to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty when they carry out major screwups with amazing consistensies.
I don’t know why but it bugs me a great deal to see people turning up to work and performing with no desire; we could revolutionize our company but with the lack of vision at all levels, the only way is down. I sympathize with them sometimes because they are misinformed, or “don’t know” which direction they need to face, but it is the same point that I made 6 months ago – wouldn’t you think a grown adult would come asking eventually?
It saddens me to see that 3 people within 2 years of my age range look no further at pushing or expanding themselves, regardless of the push, motivation and knowledge that they are being given from others. Ya, maybe it’s lack of leadership, but at 27, 28 and 29 – 3 confident and experienced adults are not seeing beyond their comfort zone. One can guide them to the river, and give them the hook and line, but ultimately it is them who has to go fishing for success.
*sigh*
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds to me a case of inadequate leadership. You need a leader that creates a vision and a purpose for the organisation to work towards. A vision that creates that hunger for success that forces people to take the extra step to achieve what seems to be beyond what they think is within them. A hunger that make them realise their true potential.
People in hard times like these are demotivated, bad news wherever you turn, a leader will focu them and they will not let you down
I’m interning with the Government these days and if what you describe is a fairly regular problem, its reached epidemic proportions here. I just can’t see the point of going day after day after day after day to the same place doing nothing challenging, just moving files about on your desk. Send this upstairs, send this down. lets indulge into office politics to spice things up. And there you are.
Some of them have worked here for FORTY years. FORTY years of this jail (for that’s all it resembles)
Great post that hits the nail right on the head.
hmm, i agree…but then thats the whole gig..thats why some co.s make bns of dollars in profit and others wonder why
I agree, if you can you should become bigger and better, regardless of if you’ll fall and risk everything.
Who cares, if you do? As long as you can then say you did you’re best.I live with people whose aim in life is to get married and have a stable life, and think everyone else should aim for the same thing, which is extremely annoying if you want to do more and then possibly get married.
*sighs*