Lots of fog around choices

Nice family vacation on the Costa del Luz in Spain. We had found a nice place between Tarifa and Cadiz. After a few days, I get a call from Carlos, with whom I managed a large integration of employment agencies in Spain. He asks if I have time to come to Seville? He wants to exchange views with me and it sounds urgent. Carlos is a great guy. Driven, sympathetic and empathetic. A kind of Nadal, but in the Spanish business world.

Reunion in Seville

We would see each other near the Plaza de España, always a pleasure to sit there. So I gladly consent and we make an appointment to see each other at the end of that week. I arrived a little early to walk around this overwhelming city. Well and truly I am at the appointed spot, when Carlos arrives walking up. After a firm "embrazo," I say, "Fantastic to see you again.

"Well, your Spanish is still great," he says teasingly. I ask how his family is doing.
'Very well thank you. The family left for vacation to Asturias up north. What about you?
'Yes, with me it can't be bad. Family together, sunshine, delectable food and drink. But that's not why we're here. How can I help, what's on your mind?'
'That's how I know you, straight to the point. I haven't even ordered my coffee yet.'

(Too) much focus on now?

'After our adventure together, I started investing in a few smaller companies in the staffing industry. Very specialized in their own niche. I just let them do their own thing and it was very successful.'
'But then you didn't do anything regarding common databases, integration of back offices and the like?'
'Fair question ... but I concentrated first on getting the right number of companies together.'
'What is that, the right number?' I ask.
'Well, that's exactly the problem I'm running into now. The focus was so much on acquisition that my team and I didn't address "real" integration. Of course the companies work together, but the different cultures and their independence have been a priority. And now comes the economic headwind.

Moving quickly is a must

'We now realize that there are huge economies of scale to be achieved, but that we need to act quickly. My management team is great though, I notice that they make good operational decisions very quickly. Making real choices is just very difficult for them and takes too much time. And to be honest, they don't prepare the choices I have to make well enough either. In short, we know where we want to go but now we are standing still for too long.'
'So my question is very specific ... can you help me? I want to get moving again and in the past we have managed to do that together very successfully'.
'Gladly, let's make an appointment at your office to talk about this further.'

BOUNCE & STEER IN BRIEF

'Bounce & Steer is an approach developed by Jan Hein Bax himself. Leaders know in most cases where they want to go strategically with their organization. Yet they often run into something. Day-to-day operational matters generally run smoothly. What is missing, however, is the tactical part. The part that ensures that the strategy is translated into clear choices and targeted actions to achieve the strategic goals.

Based on my Bounce & Steer methodology, I ensure movement in the right direction. Are we going to implement the very things that will ensure progress and growth. Are you an owner, CEO or shareholder and do you recognize these issues? Contact me if you want movement in your organization .