There are a number of businesses in the region of New Zealand where I live that are struggling to combat the effects of increasing competition – one of which has shrunk from being 6 x business units (outlets) strong to only 2 within a decade.

In my view and experience, particularly where younger business owners are concerned, there is a strong (fierce even) attitude evident of “we’re going to make it on our own come hell or high water”. This attitude is typically spurred along by either greed and/ or ego.

Recently I posted a blog which concentrates on how to minimise political disturbance/ disruption in the work place environment; found here A highly political environment is symptomatic of an organisation in which a large number of people each feel/ think that they’re “right” or that their thoughts are “better/ superior” to those of their peers/ colleagues; and it is this attitude that often starts the decline and eventual demise of a business.

Here’s the newsflash that more “politicians” should take the time to understand:

  • There is no such thing as having “the best” idea/ perspective/ perception. Rather, each human being on earth – by virtue of the fact that we each have a unique set of senses and brain – has a valid view/ opinion/ perception.
  • Where politics is permitted to overshadow practicality/ pragmatism, the organisation concerned will never make the best decisions and/ or take the best actions possible in the best interest of those who they represent.
  • Organisations that focus on resolving problems through the activation of a collaborative problem-solving approach (rather than attacking the individual person in relation to their ideas) will exceed the achievements of a politically-charged organisation markedly.
  • When a person starts believing that they alone know what’s best for an organisation, and that person is in a position of power, often a dictatorial environment develops – which in turn breeds a culture of oppression…and the evolutionary course of the organisation may either slow markedly or come to a complete standstill.

At a business owner level, when the owner starts saying to themselves “I know what’s best for my business and no-one else can offer me any better ideas than what I can come-up with myself” or “it’s my business and I’m not going to entertain the ideas of other people because they don’t know my business like I do”; such owners are limiting the success (and sometimes even the survival) prospects of their business.

My words of caution to particularly small business owners are…be very careful about allowing your ego get in the way of allowing good ideas to come into your business…many a small business is suffering as a direct result of the owner(s) locking themselves into the belief that “I know what’s best for my business”. 

Increasingly, the willingness of business owners to adopt and/or adapt is determining whether a business survives, thrives or dies.

Charles Darwin, during his close examination of living things over many years, concluded that those living things which are most adaptable to change are the ones which survive. And those that don’t adapt, inevitably perish.

If you are genuinely committed to realising a successful and sustainable business, then “invite” the perspectives/ opinions of other people that concern your business…let the feedback come. In the end, it’s up to you as to what feedback you choose to take on-board versus discard/ reject. So what’s the harm of opening your mind to the thoughts of other people ? Answer: there is no harm at all. Remember: no-one on this planet has a monopoly on good ideas !