The “We Are Good” Syndrome affects businesses of every size
What is the “We Are Good” Syndrome?
It doesn’t matter if you’re an entrepreneur or a worldwide corporate organization, choosing the people you work with makes a big difference.. The syndrome starts when you become arrogant because of the reputation that your business has gained in the past. It may also be connected with too much growth too soon. But it basically focuses on the business’s ability to overlook serious blindspots over time.
When does “We Are Good” become a Syndrome?
Having a good business in your hands and knowing it is not an issue. Celebrating success is not a problem.”We Are Good” falls into quotes when the business, the people who run it, and the people who implement the vision and mission, stop seeing the shortcomings and failures. Sometimes these people and businesses may receive awards, get public recognition and enjoy even successful numbers in approval, sales, and other success measures.
However, the “We Are Good” Syndrome impacts measures that people tend to undervalue. Efficiency, employee satisfaction, employee rotation, client satisfaction, and other people-focused metrics.
All of this happens because we tend to forget why we are in business. People work to make money, right. But, that’s not the only thing that work provides. Working provides personal satisfaction and growth, social interaction, a sense of value and belonging. But not only that, it also allows us to connect with local and international communities and chains of production by providing useful products and services. It’s not just about the paycheck!
It’s not just We Are Good, but it’s intrinsic “enough” value.
I’m the first one to defend that any human being by existing is enough. “I am enough” is a wonderfully redeeming and empowering concept. That said, when an organization or a business becomes content with doing enough to achieve success metrics, we head into turbulent times. A business cannot thrive by doing ‘enough’ in the long run.
If you’re making ends meet as an entrepreneur you may get to this. Or if you are keeping businesses open within a complex economic climate you may do this too. Some other instances where this shows up are:
-Complex international and multicultural structures
-Businesses struggling with the aftermath of a crisis
-Companies or people who face legal actions or financial assessment
Look at your business: Are you doing “enough” for your business to stay alive? Or do you have what it takes to grow? Have you detected areas of opportunity? If you have… Do you have what it takes to improve and actually do better?
Doing ‘enough’ may have been your survival strategy. But again, in the long run, it doesn’t work. Don’t get stuck!
How can you identify it?
Clear vision and mission
Knowing the kind of business you are, the people you want taking part in the organization, and how things get done is key. If you have lost track of this, go back. If your original vision, mission, and values are not clear, spend some time getting your leadership to clarify them. On this, please be careful not to modify everything from the beginning. It’s quite tempting to adjust mission, vision and values to whatever you have currently going on. The true value of this process is noticing that the reason for being of your business doesn’t usually change, it may just evolve. You can start making shoes, and eventually focus on the “walking experience” of your customers. You may start as a singer-songwriter, and evolve into using the power of music in different environments.
Make sure you’re not adapting your vision to your blindspots, just because you don’t like what you see.
Check your efficiency!
If you are devoting too much time and resources to get your job done, that needs attention. For example, you may have planned for a client to take 5 hours out of your week, and they’re suddenly taking 10! Sometimes customer support may be getting considerably more calls than expected. Your tech team may be fixing problems more often than they used to. You KNOW what’s normal, you have your numbers from the past… Make sure you check for trends and outliers.
Human Resources
Talk to the people! I have seen Human Resources as the most underused are in many corporations (and these are BIG and renown names). In terms of entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, you can also check this in terms of your collaborators and your interaction with them.
-Big employee turnover can mean a couple of things, and none of them is good.
The first, your work environment is toxic. If people quit continuously, it’s not only expensive in terms of training and team integration. It also means, people do not “feel good” working in your business, or for you.
The second, you are hiring the wrong people! The recruitment process is extremely complex. Regardless of whether you’re hiring people for an organization or finding a company or service provider for your business needs. It’s even worse when you forget that a person with their own values, needs, and habits is joining your own values, needs, and operations. You can’t merely “fill a position”.
-It’s not just turnover. Check on your employee’s health.
Have you noticed more sick days? More surgeries? Continuous gastric problems? Creativity blockages? Failing to deliver quality work or simple mistakes that keep happening? All of these elements may be directly connected to stressful work situations. They can range from simple group imbalance and distress to real aggressive and toxic interactions.
– Actual Human Resources
What is your Human Resources process to solve problems? I can’t tell you how many people complain about their direct superior. It goes beyond “hating your boss”. People who actually talk to supervisors, Human Resource Departments, file complaints, you name it! If someone is taking the time to go through the proper channels just to get the “Why don’t you try talking to them?” response… Can you see the flaw?
Stop gaslighting your employees! Listen to them!
Stop the “We Are Good” Syndrome in a positive and constructive way.
The best and most impactful way to stop this is complicated: You have to be willing to face what is NOT working in your business. What hurts? What doesn’t feel right? Sit with it! Analyze it, and plan on how to fix it.What do you need? Be honest. The answers may be painful. After all, you thought everything was going great, right? Just like any other relationship, if you pretend everything is fine, it will hurt more when things break apart.
Direct consequences of not dealing with it:
-Increased costs all over your business (meaning you are actually losing money that cost you effort, time, and resources to make).