There are many ways to kill a business. Lack of strategy, poor execution, and the wrong team could lead any business down a path of failure, but did you know there are two very specific phrases that can kill any business, including yours?
Whether you or an employee has said one of these phrases out loud or simply allowed them to enter your thoughts, they can spell impending doom for your business.
Have you thought or said one of the business-killing phrases discussed below in the past?
1. We’ve Tried that Before.
Just because you’ve tried something before and failed doesn’t mean it was a bad idea. In fact, if the idea keeps popping up, it warrants investigation.
Why did it fail? Can you do it better this time? Has the micro- or macro-environment changed in such a way that the idea could work today even though it failed in the past? These are the questions a good leader should ask, and employees should answer them through today’s business lens, not the clouded lens of the past.
2. This is How We’ve Always Done It.
People don’t like change. There is no way around that, so it’s up to you as the leader to encourage your team to embrace change by helping them navigate change successfully.
Making change simply for the sake of making change isn’t a good business decision, so you need to ensure that your employees understand why changes need to happen. Otherwise, they’ll wonder, “What’s wrong with the way we’ve been doing things?” They could perceive your desire to make changes as an insult to their skills, experiences, and knowledge.
It’s highly unlikely that employees will instantly jump on board and support changes. It’s up to you as the leader to set the right expectations and create the right perceptions.
Eliminating Business-Killing Phrases Starts with Leadership
A great leader knows how to educate and motivate employees so past experiences don’t become future obstacles. Instead, past experiences become lessons that can be leveraged to make things better and ensure future success.
Eliminate the two phrases discussed above from your thoughts, teach your employees to do the same, and your business will have a much better chance for success.
Originally published 1/18/15. Updated 1/20/19.
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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Good article with very true information. Don’t discount anything when looking for solutions. Be open in all aspects of life. It may surprise you.
Thank you for commenting, Rod. I completely agree with you. Even the craziest idea can prompt a brilliant idea!
Here’s another business killer phrase: “I really like it…what do you think?” This comment indicates the person is in love with their own idea, which leaves no room for discussion.
Roberta. You’re absolutely right! There is no room for disagreement when they’ve already told you how much they love it.
Hello Susan,
I loved your website. Very useful info.
Thank you, Ankita!