In the current economic environment, organizations are looking for rapid, yet enduring ways to improve operations. Most of the companies I talk to have experienced a wide spectrum of business conditions over the past three years, and right now they are grappling with run-away inflation and are looking for every opportunity to identify and reduce or eliminate losses. At the same time, many of our companies have seen unprecedented employee churn at all levels of the hierarchy, including front line and middle leadership.
During the pandemic and “The Great Resignation,” smart organizations promoted from within to cope with employee turnover–and continue to do so. This is a great strength. However, there is a significant downside: in this scenario, even though front line leaders may be experts at processes and operations, many are not strong leaders. This poses a threat to improving operational performance. [Read more…]