To Save the Company ?
Change the Leadership Style
Primer for Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association, 
by John M. Collard, Strategic Management Partners, Inc., 
published by Newsletter of Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association
SMP Library

Strategic Management Partners Primer for Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association, 
by John M. Collard, Strategic Management Partners, Inc., 
published by Newsletter of Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association

A nationally recognized turnaround management firm
specializing in interim executive leadership, corporate renewal,
and post acquisition support for the private equity community.

Article   SMP Main Library   SMP Home   Contact SMP

Primer for Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association, 
by John M. Collard, Strategic Management Partners, Inc., 
published by Newsletter of Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association
To Save the Company ?
        Change the Leadership Style
        Text
By John M. Collard
 
Primer for Corporate Renewal, 1993.
                                        Primer for Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association, 
by John M. Collard, Strategic Management Partners, Inc., 
published by Newsletter of Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Association
SECTIONS:
Change Leadership Style
Article Text

Sections     Index
Who can handle the crisis management role?  This is a predicament.  Clear thinking must prevail and a special set of skills must be applied.

If there is a qualified leader within the company, then delegate the job of turnaround to that person --  and provide proper support.  If there is not a qualified leader in the company, and there usually isn't, don't hesitate to go outside to locate a professional at this type of work.  The answer often resides outside the company in the form of a turnaround specialist.

But what guides the decision?

Different companies need different kinds of leaders.  The CEO that managed the company while it got into trouble probably doesn't have the skills to doctor it back to health.  And conversely, the CEO that can bring a troubled company from the brink of failure may not have the skills to manage long term, day-to-day operations.

Let's put the leadership role into proper perspective.  Leadership requirements differ between those for healthy, growing companies and for those in a troubled situation.  Compare the differences in our chart.


 

Contrasting Leadership Styles
Attribute Healthy Company Turnaround Situation
Focus Objectives Survival, action, problem-solving
Decision making Deliberate Quick, decisive
Authority Delegate Direct Involvement
People Develop skills Recruit talent
Respected for: Management reputation Financial credibility
Known for: Consistency Ability to shift gears
 

Differences in style are a key to success, in either situation. In the stable or growth scenario, team building and coaching are the buzzwords.  But in the initial crisis and subsequent turnaround situation, time is an enemy. Decisive action is required.

The focus is dramatically different.  This is one reason why the troubled environment is so foreign to many managers, and hence, the difficulty finding qualified talent from within the company.  The stable environment allows for mistakes and longer lead cycles to achieve goals.  Troubled companies have primarily one goal  --    to survive and get well.  If the symptoms persist with no cure, the patient can die.

Just as with a critical patient, the immediate focus at a troubled company should be on action  --    make something happen.  The first goal in an absolute crisis is to stabilize and buy time.  After calming the waters, take a reading on where things stand   --   which is normally still.  Look for changes in ratios and trends to determine what is, or more importantly, what is not going on in the business.

Following this diagnostic stage, the transition can begin towards a turnaround.  Most importantly, the leader needs to get things moving again.  Movement must occur in two areas --     On the Volume In (revenue/sales) side, look at where and how revenue is generated.  Is it from existing customers and contracts or new business?  Most importantly, keep it coming in.  On the Volume Out (throughput/production) side, look at getting the product or service 'out the door'.  How else can you bill for it?

Companies often get into trouble because management procrastinates when it comes to making decisions.  If the decision is made by default, it is akin to making no decision at all.  Much of that early, and overall, survival also depends upon being immediate  --  upon making decisions in a timely manner.  Even a wrong decision means movement and direction.  If a decision turns out to be wrong, change it, but keep things moving.

Time is also an important dimension when it comes to authority.  In a stable company, there is time to delegate and nurture the growth of the management team; time to work on long term issues and projects.  In the troubled situation delegating takes on a different role.  Managers must be held accountable not only for performance, but for timely results.

In a troubled situation, the decision maker must get directly involved.  It is hard to worry about the long term future when there may not be one.  The leader is pressed closer to the immediacy of the day-to-day operations.  If you want action, request a decision . . . or make one.

In a stable situation there is time to develop talent.  But at a troubled firm, you must exploit the talents of those who can perform and recruit the talent that is lacking.  It means building a permanent management team that can bring the company back to health --   and add value to the company.

Communication is critical  --  with everyone who has a stake in the company's success.  Talk to employees, but more importantly, listen to what they have to say.  Be assured, they know when problems exist.

What message are you sending?  Remember, what is not said is often more destructive than what is.  Unnatural actions or behavior, such as 'closed door meetings,' will most certainly set off the rumor mill.  People need to know or they're left to their own imaginations --     and that is always worse.

Equally important, level with people --     then get the stay versus go decision.  To address the issues in a forthright manner is no guarantee that you will keep everyone, or that everyone will believe what has been said.  But to not communicate what is going on is a lack of leadership, so don't be surprised when employees don't do what you want them to.

Turnaround leaders didn't start out as such   --   they were often managers that worked their way up the corporate ladder through hard work and (hopefully) fair play to build a solid management reputation. They have also developed a set of skills to handle problem solving, getting results with minimal resources, (tight) cash flow management, negotiating and dealing with bankers, investors and creditors.  The stakeholders will usually work with a turnaround leader --   if he or she is credible.

A key initial element to a successful turnaround is to establish a good relationship with your bank.  Capital is always required in tough times, not to mention that its desired in good times as well.  If the leaders who were in power while the company's position was allowed to deteriorate are still there, why should the lender believe that they will now be instrumental in correcting the situation?  With all the suspicion that can surround a troubled company, it is important that trust be re established with the bank. Credibility with the lender(s) is mandatory to success  --    and most likely to keeping that cash flow at the bank.  And with the bank holding the trump card, the institution must feel comfortable working with the turnaround leader.  It means laying everything out on the table to keep the situation honest  --    and honoring commitments made to the lender.

Where consistency is important in a stable environment the name of the game in a turnaround situation is uncertainty.  You can absolutely, positively count on surprises.  "When it rains, it pours" may be cliched, but when applied to a troubled company, one can be sure that 'Murphy is shaking the clouds.'

The ability to deal with change at a rapid pace is essential.  This is why a seasoned practitioner can be the answer to a successful turnaround plan. The existing leadership is often 'out of its element' as it enters this untrodden ground of trouble.  And when people haven't had to manage in this environment before, the odds are that they will at the very least, have a difficult time.

One alternative is to work with consultants.  They can't be leaders because they can't make decisions for the company.  They can make recommendations, but often to the same leader who failed to make a decision in the first place.

The practitioner, on the other hand, is a hands on decision maker who actually takes control of the company  --  often as CEO --   for a period of time.  He is in control of the company's destiny.  He must know how to be decisive, know how to isolate the problems and find solutions.

Affecting a turnaround takes an array of skills.  When in crisis there is no time for a warm up.  Just as with that patient in intensive care, the longer a company is on the critical list, the harder it is to nurse it back to health.  To affect a rehabilitation, the right leader will know how to make the quick and proper decisions, put a plan into action and keep a talented team moving towards a healthy and more valuable end.
 
 

Sections     Index

Reprinted with permission. A Primer for Corporate Renewal, 1993. Copyright 1993, Strategic Management Partners, Inc.

Sections     Index

We welcome constructive inquires. More information is available if required.

There is more to Strategic Management Partner's Return to Home Page




[Marble]   Contact Information

Index

John M. Collard, Chairman
Strategic Management Partners, Inc.
522 Horn Point Drive
Annapolis, Maryland [MD] 21403
Voice 410-263-9100 Facsimile 410-263-6094 E-Mail Strategist@aol.com

We serve as experts for comment or quote, please contact us at 410-263-9100 [Telephone]

We welcome constructive inquires, please send via E-Mail to:   Strategist. [Mailbox]

[Return]

Top   Index   Sections   Contact
SMP Library
www.StrategicMgtPartners.com
www.StrategistLibrary.com
www.StrategistArticle.com
www.StrategistFeature.com









Copyright © 1993-2003 Strategic Management Partners, Inc. turnaround management and investing, Strategic Management Partners, Inc., tsigetarts