Business Management Skills

There are times when you can find yourself appointed to run a business change that will never happen. This is a place when you are among the walking dead. There is no question that the initiative will not succeed. What is worse is that those put in this position fail to recognize what is happening. This is why it is imperative, as a change agent, to have a true understanding of your situation.

There are some questions that you can ask yourself to assess your situation. Do you have any support or credibility anywhere in your organization? If not, warning bells should be sounding in your head. If you have no support, it’s like being naked; no one takes you seriously. Are the resources you’ve given a joke? A lack of resources indicates an expectation of failure. Were you chosen because you’re strong or weak? If better candidates were passed over for you, tread very carefully. You’re likely a pawn for someone else’s agenda. Does the opposition remind you of an irresistible force? If push comes to shove, will you be the first one under the bus? If this sounds like something happening to you, you must look at your situation with a cold heart and figure out if you’re the stooge. Not looking at your situation could mean finding yourself the sacrificial victim.

If the worst has happened and this is your situation, here are some strategies to try and salvage something. Pick your battles with some care. Alter your expectations to fit the bad situation. You are not going to accomplish very much in this scenario. Try to choose things you can win. Even small victories can mean a lot here. Get some kind of support from somewhere. If you can find a program manager, an executive, a middle manager with someone’s ear, get them on your side. You have to have support to survive. Look for initiatives with a short duration. If you have a little luck and can get something that is both winnable and short-term, grab it with both hands.

Start re-negotiating your situation. You have to do everything in your power to get away from that no-win scenario. Plan for the worst and have a backup plan. You need to have some idea what you will do if everything falls apart. Honestly is the best policy here and you should demand nothing less from others. Don’t lose your cool, but get some real clarity regarding your circumstances. Lay out all the reasons why the business change cannot happen. Make a counter-offer. Agree to take the project forward but not as things stand. If all else fails, bow out gracefully. The objective is keep your dignity and credibility intact. Those are the two things you cannot afford to lose.

There is the possibility of being involved with a business change where you are in the walking dead situation. If you have concluded that you may be in this scenario, do a cold, hard analysis of where you stand. The sooner you know, the sooner you can begin the process of re-negotiating, counter-offers, or bowing out. Ahead of all else, defend your dignity and credibility.

For more information, please see our website: business change blog