Why do businesses fail? Excess
leverage, management shortcomings, technology changes, loss of market share, an
ineffective board of directors and overall economic conditions are some of the
leading causes of business failure today.
A lost contract coupled with product
distribution problems may initiate a downturn. For business owners, it may seem
easy to overlook difficulties at first. However, if an organization does not
immediately address looming problems, it will hemorrhage key employees, cash
and customers. Revenue sources will dry up, and the once rosy future becomes
dim. An overall sense of fear, panic and despondency sets in.
Smart business owners seek ways to
maximize the profitable good times as well as strategic guidance and expertise
to curtail and remedy potentially lean periods. Surprisingly, though, many owners
do not ever expect their organizations to perform below average or worse. They
do not plan for fallow periods or even periods of distress. Like an ostrich,
management may bury its head in the sand, not wanting to know the extent of the
difficulties. The wake-up call usually comes when a company hits a cash crisis
and owners are required to call on its bank or investors, and panic is set into
motion.
Management’s initial reaction to
crisis often gives an indication of the longevity of their organization. Those
leaders who seek council early tend to prosper in the future. Further, these
owners realize the importance of keeping clear and open channels of
communication with all stakeholders by providing key information on a timely
basis.
Alternatively, some companies see,
but ignore, the warning signs. These firms often decline, and then fail without
implementing decisive recovery measures.
What many organizations do not
realize is how quickly the business lifecycle can shift. Company owners may be
too close to the situation to see what’s really going on in their business, or
so exasperated that they’re ready to give up.
