Book · Free excerpt
Entreprise forte
Building a strong company: 13 mistakes to avoid
Starting a company is one thing. Building an organisation that can run, grow and get through difficulties is another.
As an entrepreneur, executive and consultant, I have learned that companies do not struggle only because of a lack of resources or a poor strategy. Sometimes they struggle because of behaviours we ourselves have allowed to take hold.
This book explores thirteen management mistakes that can gradually weaken a company. Each chapter presents a concrete situation, explains its consequences and offers methods to build a stronger organisation.
A strong company is not a company without problems. It is a company that learns to solve them.
Contents
Part I — The foundations of a strong company
- 1
Don’t let a culture of complaint take hold Free
Don’t just bring a problem. Bring some thinking about the solution too.
- 2
Don’t lead to be liked Free
Leading is not about being liked. It is about setting a course, drawing limits and having the courage to hold them.
- 3
Don’t put internal comfort before customer value Free
Every time we ask customers to do something, let’s first ask whether we could do it for them.
Part II — Deciding and acting
- 4
Don’t let fear drive strategy
- 5
Don’t hand out power without accountability
- 6
Don’t wait for perfection before acting
- 7
Don’t punish honest mistakes
Part III — Building an accountable organisation
- 8
Don’t confuse control with rigour
- 9
Don’t always shield people from consequences
- 10
Don’t carry the whole team emotionally
Part IV — Building a lasting company
- 11
Don’t put off difficult decisions
- 12
Don’t make yourself indispensable
- 13
Don’t sacrifice your values under pressure