Early Signs

Early signs that you and your organization are setting traps for yourselves will often take the form of self-convincing behaviour, and resistance to disturbing facts.

Take notice if you or your associates have been saying:

• 'We're right, they're wrong, let's keep going!'
• 'We only have to try harder', 'They'll see later on'!

It may be that you are ignoring data or information that doesn't fit or doesn't add up. You may be finding an organizational scapegoat, or setting up superstars who will heroically pull something off.

These are signs that the strong founding drive or original business vision is refusing to account for new information. It was important to ignore the small issues of dissonance early on - but new information and a radar for goodness of fit are essential elements to focussed success.

Success often means adding people and resources. Delegation. Do you find it harder to find your kind of staff - people who fit in with the way you see things without having to start from scratch and bring someone up to speed?

If these signs continue, your organization may be heading into a real trap.