THE NARCISSUS SYNDROME CAN DESTROY YOUR BUSINESS

THE NARCISSUS SYNDROME CAN DESTROY YOUR BUSINESS

BY DR. A. GORDON RAY, PRESIDENT HORIZONS UNLIMITED INTL.

In my role as a personal development teacher and business consultant, one glaring characteristic that I have observed is that many individuals and business organizations become enthralled with their own image, actions and modes of operation. In many cases, these modes of action and operation have produced a certain level of success. But there is a danger in this mindset.

In the rapidly changing and brutally competitive business environment, yesterday's solutions won't meet and solve today's challenges. Yesterday's modes won't get today's business successfully done! Today's business requires new, fresh solutions products and operational modes. Consequently, to become fixed upon a certain solutions/modes mindset is to soon be passed by the competition, left in "has been" , "used to be" and on the "down hill" slope into unprofitability and eventual extinction. Venture, Montgomery War, Service Merchandise - and the Caldor Retail chain - all businesses which had existed for as long as 45 years or more are now "has beens". All are the victims of their arrogance, closed mindedness and false assumptions. I call this the Narcissus Syndrome - executives so enthralled with their own ego and operational modes that they fail to see the broad view of where their business is - where their industry is headed - and what they need to change to stay on the cutting edge - be THE initiator, not the imitator.

In many organizations, I have gone into the President's or Owner's office and I hear certain old EGO phrases about the business, its long time operational mode and success and I notice that he's wearing a certain kind of tie. I go into the Senior Vice President's office and I hear the same phrases and he's wearing the same tie. There it is - the "Narcissus Syndrome" and right then I can predict that it is just a matter of time until the business is in trouble.

There is no new, exciting, refreshing point of view, futuristic operational modes or cutting edge ideas in the entire leadership team. In some cases I have sent a proposal and in that proposal I say: "your main challenge is that you have a "TIE PROBLEM".

Often the stunned response is: "What does that mean"? "How did you figure that out?" The truth is that what passes as brilliant insight from a teacher and consultant is simply observing what everyone could see if they would be constantly open to a new point of view and mindset in a dynamically changing business environment. My advice? Change your tie - better yet get a great teacher or consultant for new ideas, insights and operational processes. I AM AVAILABLE! I HAVE A LOT OF NEW TIES!

CALL ME: 760.967.1205

HUINTL@AOL.COM

WWW.AGORDONRAY.COM