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Lean or skinny - is your organization healthy?
Posted on: Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The dictionary defines lean as
1. (of a person or animal) thin, esp. healthily so; having no superfluous fat
and skinny as
1. informal (of a person or part of their body) very thin
One can infer from that that lean is healthy whereas skinny may not be. There is something for us as leaders to learn in that difference.
For months now it has been received wisdom that in a recession lean organizations would do better. Lean is seen as athletic and good. Skinny might look good but can be troublesome. The difference is important as when faced with unexpected events lean does better than skinny.
One such unexpected event can be in the form of a virus that comes to disrupt the smooth working of the organization. This is where we move away from analogy to reality. In the midsts of the swine flu pandemic it is not only doctors that are worried about our health but economists too. Last week an Oxford economic think tank published a report stating that any potential economic recovery could be put at risk by the swine flu outbreak (going as far as suggesting a potential 5% decrease in GDP and deflation).
One interesting insight is coming out of the risk assessment and planning debate currently taking place.
Businesses with some fat might be better off than lean businesses. The argument is that when a large percentage of your workforce is likely to be at home recovering from the virus, if you are skinny you have no reserve to compensate. Your entire body is fighting the virus, no longer focused on doing anything else.
I guess the question is what is driving your diet? Is it vanity (i.e. trying to be appealing to those who look at you - e.g. shareholders) or real health concerns (i.e. the fact that you are overweight is stopping you achieving your objectives?) I guess that all depends on what your objectives are. Sometimes though, regardless of what you’re doing, it is worth stopping to ask the question.
Other current blog items
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The biggest con on planet business
Posted on: Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Is incentive pay damaging your business?
Posted on: Sunday, August 30, 2009
The ROI of nothing is nothing
Posted on: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Buy it, read it, get down with the kids
Posted on: Thursday, August 06, 2009
Leading the Torchwood way
Posted on: Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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