March 2021 Connections Video: Are we out over our skis?

Coming to the end of the first quarter of the calendar year, I always find myself checking in to see how Syte is progressing against our annual goals.

Our family-owned manufacturing clients are doing the same thing around this time, and I can’t help but notice some distinctions.

First, these organizations can stretch themselves remarkably far, and accomplish truly great things, year over year. They just keep growing, even when presented with new challenges.

Second, though, after the events of the last year, burnout is showing up in a big way. Watch this 3-minute video for more of my thoughts on this, and where you and I both may have some room for improvement.

Good afternoon! Happy March to you! Erin Koss here from Syte Consulting Group.

In February, I was talking directly to the CEOs in our group and the leadership members of the leadership team on our group.

We were talking a little bit about how it’s so easy to just go it alone and not ask for the help that you need. We also talked about the three C’s and how connection, communication and collaboration with other people and asking for help can really make us better at our jobs and at our roles in all places that we show up in the world.

This month, I want to recognize that we’re almost done with the first quarter of 2021. I know it’s time for my business and me, when I start to look back at the first quarter and ask myself, “Are we on target for the goals and objectives we have for this year?”.  Of course, I asked myself that personally but I also ask that more broadly and globally within our organization. One of the things I’ve noticed about the family-owned manufacturing companies that we tend to serve is how much they can stretch themselves.

They stretch themselves and accomplish amazing and really big things every year, year over year, particularly in this last year and going into this New Year where Covid presented some new challenges. The manufacturing companies, as essential as they are, continue to keep growing. This has even gotten harder and even more amazing to watch as these organizations are so unique and special in the way that they can continue to stretch themselves individually and as organizations.

It’s really remarkable.

That said, the thing I am seeing is a little bit of burnout is showing up here and there. It’s not always the best thing in the world to stretch when in fact, you start to recognize that the goals you’re trying to meet may not be within your capabilities or capacities, particularly right now within these organizations.

My encouragement is, as you start to look at that first quarter for yourself, for your organization, where you might normally push and stretch and stretch and push, keep doing that and also consider where might you need help as an organization to add capabilities and capacity. This is something that we do specifically in the world.

We play in with our family-owned manufacturing companies as we help them select, implement, and optimize ERP solutions.

But it shows up in all sorts of places and in all sorts of special projects that you might be trying to get done within your organization that really are critical and pivotal even to helping you grow and most importantly, grow and scale.

Consider that maybe it’s great to go it alone sometimes and maybe it’s great to be able to hunker down within your organization and really stretch and make do with what you have. These are great characteristics.

But if you’re really trying to grow in scale, where might outside help and assistance capabilities and capacity really serve you as you go into the second, third and finally the fourth fourth quarter for 2021? I know even for our organization, as we are looking to grow and scale ourselves on a plan to grow three to five times and three to five years, which is really ambitious. I know it’s really doable.

I’ve had to really check myself and ask myself where am I out over my skis here from a capacity and capability perspective. And I’ve had to ask for help. Doing that has been made of a remarkable difference and I wish that for you. Take a look at that plan for the rest of the year and ask yourself what makes sense for you. With that, I’d love to hear from you and hear how it’s going. Where is this working? Where are you stretching and where are you reaching out? And of course, if we can be a resource to you, let me know. Take care.