WHY SHORTCUTS IN BUSINESS CAN BE DANGEROUS
I love a good shortcut. Put me in heavy traffic and I will
greedily dive down the first side street in search of a faster way
through. A similar temptation is shared by many CEOs and managers. As
time becomes more compressed, bosses increasingly take their
businesses through corporate rat-runs in pursuit of the quick win.
But at what cost?
In the car, shortcuts pay off more often when you know the local
territory. When you don't, you can easily become hopelessly lost.
Seems to me that similar rules apply to in business. Let me take
you on a tour of some of the popular shortcuts which run off Business
Boulevard.
Cost-Cut Crescent is a well-worn shortcut off our main road. It
was designed by former Sunbeam chief Al `Chainsaw' Dunlap. Taking this
side street is a great way to lighten your load in a hurry. It's a
rough track though, so be careful. There is a tendency to shake
off too much, making staying on the road quite difficult.
Restructure Road is another popular side street, particularly for
newcomers. This shortcut can give a vehicle a new lease of life.
As you travel down this road you'll need to replace or reorganise the
worn parts on your vehicle. Be sure to use genuine replacements
only: the wrong part in the wrong place can slow you down
considerably.
Technology Terrace is perhaps the most attractive shortcut off our
route. This well-lit street has it all. There are shops touting
countless gadgets and gauges, programs and productivity tools û
all promising to speed your journey. A warning though: choose hastily
and you may end up going backwards.
Product Parade has been widened considerably to accommodate
increased traffic volume in the last few years. This shortcut aims to
make your vehicle more attractive by giving your customers endless
choices. The risk down this street is that you will become distracted
trying to manage them all and take your eyes off the road.
If none of these shortcuts sound attractive to you û or if they
take you longer to navigate than you planned û fear not. Just around
the next bend you will see the turnoff to Fad Freeway. This bypass
moves very quickly and holds a lot of traffic. It is hard to get off,
however, and has a tendency to take the unwary driver in
continuous circles.
As you can see, the side streets off Business Boulevard are very
tempting. Each offers that irresistible offer of `something for
nothing'. But before turning off, you would be wise to consider
the risks. Sometimes, putting up with the traffic on the main road for
just a bit longer will be the better choice.
After all, if everyone leaves in search of shortcuts, you'll have
the main highway all to yourself!
Copyright David Brewster 2003
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David Brewster is a Simplicity specialist. He helps managers and
business owners find ways apply the principles of simplicity to the
way they work, the products they create and the way they
communicate. David regularly writes and speaks on simplifying work as
well as working with a small group of clients through his consulting
firm 'Business Simplification'.
Downloads and resources are available at his website:
http://www.businesssimplification.com.au
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