Does your company need a Business Makeover?

Recently I found myself watching a reality TV program called Kitchen Nightmares. The premise is, a restaurant in trouble is visited by Chef Gordon Ramsay, who observes the establishment then implements changes to help turn the business from fledgling to thriving. As I watched the program, what struck me was how complacent the owners and staff had become about their bread and butter (no pun intended), and how evident it was in the organization’s performance.

Complacency in any form can be more damaging to a business than a slow economy, rising gas prices or even increased competition. It changes the underlying motivation of an organization from quality and excellence to cost cutting and penny pinching, which leads to mediocre performance, short cuts and costly mistakes.

Sound familiar? If so, it may be time for a business makeover. A business makeover is like a visit to the doctor. It’s invasive, annoying and time consuming; however, the right diagnosis could also be lifesaving. A business makeover done right could mean the difference between making excesses for low performance and explaining how you’re performing so well.

A business makeover generally entails the following steps:

1. Assessment and Evaluation – An independent, objective internal auditor compares conditions within the organization as they are with how they should be, based upon a predetermined standard set by the industry or the company’s established procedures.

2. Reporting and Recommendations – Based upon the findings of the audit, recommendations are made on how to move the organization from where it is to where it should be for optimal performance.
   
3. Implementation – Oftentimes, this is the most painful part of the process. Changing old habits, mindsets and philosophies can be challenging. But then challenges are what make being a CEO so much fun. Right?!?

 What do you think, we want to hear from you?