the investors especially for public listed companies .
Behind the scenes we now know , albeit belatedly , that there were serious step gaps that were cancerous to those organizations . No matter what help they got those gaps hindered their spring back . Every business that grows must come to terms that it will be run by men . Great men and women , who work hard to build the brand and protect the integrity of the business . Then there will be those who come in and realize there are loopholes and notice the business has no capacity to unhinge their craftiness . They exploit that goodwill and the cheese begins to crumble .
All levels of the business need oversight and advisory structure . All staff need to be coached to be their very best not only at work but in their personal lives as family and individual financial empowerment . We have to be cognizant to the fact that revenge from bitter staff ( resigned or fired ), suppliers and trade partner could be the downfall of any great business brand .
Maybe we need to look into the benefits that go towards the lowest of cadres in businesses first . It could be the perks that perch the top management that is the problem . Could it be the unfettered decision making at all levels that create small cracks that add up to enormous fault lines in the business ? How are expenses checked ? How is income checked ? What checks and balances are in place for onboarding suppliers and trade partners ?
How is the due diligence mechanism done to cap excesses but still facilitate innovation and reward creativity ? How is the motivation structure ? How are our orientation programs when onboarding staff or suppliers and trade partners ? How are our release programs structured when we let go of staff , suppliers or trade partners ? Are our staff policies inhibiting the entrepreneurial spirit of the business ? Are we choking hard work and rewarding right politically aligned individuals only ?
These are some of the questions we need to always table to our businesses and organizations . We can never run away from the realities that arise from neglecting this self-governance structures .
All levels of the business need oversight and advisory structure . All staff need to be coached to be their very best not only at work but in their personal lives as family and individual financial empowerment . We have to be cognizant to the fact that revenge from bitter staff ( resigned or fired ), suppliers and trade partner could be the downfall of any great business brand .
It is painful that staff at Nakumatt , Uchumi and Tuskys upon realization that top management was not keen to safeguard their livelihoods went on a rampage to loot the already struggling business . The sanctions of suppliers and trade partner of many a business are the ones that pit them against financiers and steal the wind in their sails . Once the public goodwill goes then there is little that any intervention can do to salvage a once flourishing business .
Golf highlights an important lesson that we could learn from . Everyone is given a handicap , which means that out of your abilities and skill , your weakness is measured and graded . This means you are always playing against yourself . A friend of mine always jokes that the handicap number represents the number of weak links and fault you have as a player . So for a handicap 18 it means you have at least 18 weak links and faults to overcome to play well in a round . I wish there was such an overall standard for businesses to be measured and be graded .
Every human being has strengths , gifts and build up skills . We often forget to mention that they too have weaknesses and faults . It is these weaknesses and faults that if left unchecked then culminate into the Samson ’ s tragedy . If only he would have known his weakness and checked it . He could even have married Delilah and brought her home instead of sneaking off to her house each night . Or overcome his wants and settled down with a plain Jewish lady according to their God commanded tradition .
Alexander The Great was even worshipped as a god by fans and many of his servants . Yet his conquered enemies always sought to find out his weaknesses . He was steadfast for a long time . Only retreating to quench his qualms in private ; under the watchful eye of a very small circle of trusted friends amongst whom he could afford to be vulnerable . But remember his circle of trusted friends were human and they too had weaknesses .
His enemies hope just like those of Samson lay on his weaknesses being exposed . The day his weaknesses took the best of him , his enemies who lay in wait sprung an ugly ambush on him . His greatness melted like butter under the heat of his weakness . I like the way Apostle Paul in his first advisory and encouragement epistle to the Corinthians chapter 12 verse 7 recognizes that his human weakness was a thorn in the flesh that he had to live with and deal with . He says that what pushes him forward is his focus on Jesus whose grace and mercy guide him towards his perfection .
No business is perfect but that does not mean we should be callous on their governance . Good governance ensures good business . Which in turn means value addition to the clientele , shareholders ’ and staff . If a business survives and thrives for more than five years then the economic impact of that business is crucial to a growing economy , the populace and generations to come .
When we make our business bankable in the sense that they are governed and run exceptionally then our societies will be impacted positively . Now if that becomes the story and modus operandi for many businesses around us then we flourish cumulatively as a people . Businesses should be structurally sound to stand the test of time . Every business needs sound focus and a greater level of accountability in their pursuits . Only good governance at all levels can ensure that .
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