Working with business owners, we frequently observe a common scenario: businesses initially seek to implement change and put an action plan into place, only to abandon it early in the process. The reason often cited is that the plan didn’t work. In reality, the plan didn’t work YET.
If we could represent the effectiveness of an effort using a horizontal line, it would often form the shape of the letter J. Initially, there is a decline period, followed by an improvement phase that eventually exceeds the original starting point. Unfortunately, many action plans are terminated at the bottom of the J-curve, under the assumption that the project isn’t working and is making matters worse. Therefore, the project is abandoned.
However, if everyone understood beforehand that the “J-Curve Effect” is natural, it would be possible to persevere through the initial decline and then enjoy the fruits of a successful project shortly thereafter.
An Example
Imagine a business owner who wants to leave a construction crew unattended to meet with potential clients. The owner puts his best employee in charge and leaves the crew under the new supervisor’s control. If a problem arises, the new supervisor will handle it to the best of his ability. Upon the owner’s return, the supervisor reports on how things went. If the supervisor’s decisions weren’t as effective as those the owner would have made, the owner now has a choice:
- a) Say, “This idea isn’t working; let’s abandon the project, and I will stay with the crew forever to manage problems my way.”
- b) Recognize that the transition is currently at the bottom of the J-Curve. The supervisor’s initial training wasn’t perfect, but he will likely make better decisions next time. With a little more experience and training, he will move up the J-curve, and the owner will become comfortable leaving him in charge. This way, the owner can focus on sales calls during the day instead of the weekends.
When you reflect on how you learned the skills you currently possess, did your path follow the J-Curve?
If we can help you implement change in your business, please reach out: paul@thebusinesstherapist.com
