Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

An article at Slow Leadership about the foibles, in most cases of "instant" big success, hit a chord with me because I've seen this as a problem in business leadership and management for a long time.

I know that there will always be exeptions to the rule on what I'm about to say, but considering that, I still believe it's right in the great majority of cases.

Most the time when considering change in business, it's connected to growth. It can be growth in sales and profits, or becoming more efficient in operations, where growth could be measured by company savings and customer satisfaction.

One of the major problems in explosive growth is that very few business leaders or companies are prepared to manage it.

The best example I can think of to illustrate this is with those that win a huge lottery prize. Research has shown that the vast majority of those winning lotteries end up with more devastation than before they won it. Again, there are always exceptions, but the overall trend is real.

Those that win a lot of money in many cases end up squandering it, breaking up family relations or are not able to handle the short-term fame. Usually they end up with nothing when it's all over, as they weren't prepared to handle this type of windfall.

Businesses and business leaders are similar. Most the time huge, instant successes or big contracts are not sustainable, as managers are just not prepared for this type of cash flow and operational challenges. There is also the problem of the customer service needed that this type of instant success brings.

A business leader needs to learn to grow on a steady, continual basis, rather than looking for huge deals that may make them look good temporarily, but overall isn't manageable. Many times the best and biggest decision that a business leader can make is saying no to some big deals. This is a discipline that few are willing to exercise. The temptation is too great for some people to pass on these opportunities.

We must know where our business stands and whether it's in the place to absorb a huge influx of new business. The fallout if you're wrong, can be like that of those that win lotteries. Many times it's better not to do it in the first place. The greatest preventative, as I said, is if you're in doubt just say no.

If we take on too much business and fail, our reputation as a business can be destroyed or damaged badly. Not all business is good business just because it brings in a lot of money.