Thing about having a paid employment is the constant feeling “is this going to last?” Often we are looking for ways to safe-proof our position in a company. So work hard, sales numbers are good, relationship with superiors is great and believe that nothing could possibly go wrong.
How do you tell your company is healthy? Can you vouch no one is covering something? In many cases the signs have been starring at you all the time but you ignored them and did not plan for tomorrow.
What are these signs? Like we said they are not secrets. Did you notice that some good people were leaving without good explanation? These are usually thought leaders, excellent at the job and innovators in the company. The truth is very healthy companies pride themselves in retaining the best talents. Keeping good people and empowering them to drive things forwards for any company enables them become a force to be reckoned with among competitions. Whenever you begin to notice passionate and driven co-workers leaving of their own accord for jobs of the same level or even lower than what they had before, something is wrong.
Also pay attention when you begin to hear that the company’s bills are not being paid. The accountant may explain it away as nothing to worry about, ask what is really happening. If you are stonewalled repeatedly, it is sure sign something is going on. Soon you may begin to hear there is no money to do anything, including raise wages or fund your requisition for new supplies. Cash flow is the life-blood of any business and without it is hard to pay salaries, order products, and advertise.
You might also notice frequent closed door meetings involving senior executives and their faces are usually down when they dismiss. Unless, your company has got one big secret product it intends to launch in the market and is having every executive keep it under wraps, or it could be bad news. Try asking questions about it and gauge the answers you receive, if they are vague and dismissive, there could be trouble in the house.
The situation may graduate to constant layoffs and reorganisations. It may affect you, but you may notice even some of the best workers are also being let go due to salary or internal politics.
You should know that when a company is in trouble it does not necessarily mean that there is no money. It could be that internal politics is causing friction which eventually impedes productivity. Most companies are run by corporate politicians. They often add little or no intrinsic value; they are mostly adroit in consuming management books and know how to cover their backside. They are willing to any step including cutting staff as often as possible to keep the books healthy and rich enough for the shareholders.
You may also notice unusual drastic drop in daily activities. Prior to now you will run up the steps five to six times, take 15 to 20 calls from clients – existing and new, there is always something on your plate waiting to be done. If the drop in activities continues over a period despite your efforts to turn the tide, it is time to take it serious. No business can afford to pay a staff to do nothing every day.
FRANK ELEANYA
