Here’s the tricky thing about blind corners: you typically can’t see around them until you’re right there, making that turn, getting around it, and taking a deep breath because yes, you are still moving, and you can see ahead of you again.
When we’re driving a car or riding a bicycle or in transit, we don’t typically think about this too much. Why? Because we are on a road, and the road tells us that the corner is safe and well-traveled, that we can keep going at whatever speed we are going and not have to worry about what might be around that corner. This is, of course, based on the assumption that we’re driving in clear weather on a paved road, etc.
What about when those conditions change? Maybe it’s snowing, maybe we’re off-roading in the wilderness somewhere. We don’t know where we’re going, or the conditions make the turn unpredictable in some way. We have to slow down. Maybe our hands get a little sweaty as we figure out how we’re going to make that 90-degree turn without hitting something or skidding off the road. We start trying to prepare for basically every scenario we can think of but can’t see, so that when we make it around the corner, we’re ready to face whatever might be there.
Whew. Intense!
Guess what? Businesses have to turn corners too! Often, these scenarios in business are intangible in some ways, but they can often feel the same for people calling the shots. Often, these turn-the-corner moments are accompanied by big changes in which continued growth depends on an equally big shift in thinking and thus approach to the work. Sometimes this might look like a shift in how a product is made, a shift in how a business hires employees, a shift in how a business is run.
These shifts are moments of big transition that can either launch the business forward into new opportunities and growth or result in a lot of pain if mishandled. Because businesses are made up of people, much of our success in turning the corner is determined by how the people within the business perceive the situation, how it is being addressed, and even how they feel.
Turning the corner successfully – meaning without detrimental impact to the business resulting in loss, waste, or damage – is not impossible but does require a high level of awareness, intentionality, and care from the part of business leadership. Often, businesses in this space get a little deer-in-the-headlights and miss the opportunity presented by this transition.
Why? Because in most cases, no one is prepared for what it means to transition a business to that next stage. Leveling up, so to speak, requires everyone to think differently in order to acquire new skills, prioritize new things, and allow the business the space it needs and the resources it needs to make the necessary changes. Most entrepreneurs, though marvelously talented and very hardworking, lack the strategic perspective to do this effectively. We all have our shortcomings, and it’s hard for people who start the business to see it through transition points that require more than just the brute force of hard work.
How do you identify a corner? This could be anything you are coming up against that you aren’t sure how to navigate. Some examples:
- You are aware that your target market has changed. You know there is still a market for your product/service, but you aren’t exactly sure who it is or how to access them.
- You have experienced in increase in clients and need to figure out how to increase the bandwidth of your business.
- You have an opportunity for a new revenue stream and need to identify how to manage it with existing resources.
These examples may not describe the corner you are facing, but they all share certain characteristics:
- An unexpected “game-changer”
- A great opportunity for new growth
- Shifts in what was resulting in a new, undefined environment
- A seed-change in what is required to keep the business going
None of these are actually unexpected in business – but when it’s your business facing the corner, it can be difficult to assess what is going on, understand it, and identify a path forward that will not only take care of the business, but also consider the people involved, you, and the customer you serve. It’s a big undertaking, but not an impossible one.
So, how can you successfully turn the corner you’re facing?
- Take time to think it through.
- What is actually going on? What do you know? What don’t you know?
- Identify anything that makes you nervous.
- The more awareness you have, the better off you’ll be in terms of being able to identify things that might cause a crash and burn moment.
- Ask those you trust what they perceive.
- Does anyone see things differently than you do?
- What perspective can they offer you?
- Consider the data.
- Gut feelings are great. But they should be backed up with relevant data whenever possible.
- Take deep breaths.
- Even if you don’t have a glut of time in which to make whatever decisions are facing you, you can talk your own body off the ledge with deep breaths and calm thinking.
- Don’t allow reactive, knee-jerk decisions.
Good luck! Also, the good news is that if this corner doesn’t result in the ideal launch scenario, there will be another chance. Make sure to take time to assess what you learned and what you can do next time to achieve a different outcome.
Activity: What is a corner your business (or your team) is trying to turn? How might you lay out a plan for turning the corner? Hint: Consider these:
- What is the current state of the business?
- Describe how things look today, the difficulties and the reality you are facing
- What is the ideal state?
- What does it look like on the other side of this transition in a perfect world?
- What is the future state?
- Considering the real constraints, what does the future state look like on the other side of this transition?