Why Is Growth So Hard?

         Bottlenecks.  We've all encountered them:  in line at the grocery store, waiting to turn left onto a busy street,  at the end of a long day when we just can't get the beer in fast enough.  Even in today's Now-Now-Now environment, these limiters to action are pervasive.   Failing to account for them in business growth planning would be a mistake.

Courtesy of geograph.org.uk via Creative Commons

         Most operations people are familiar with bottlenecks in processes, and with identifying and unblocking them.  However, another place that bottlenecks show up is in growth planning.  As you prepare your company for the new year and you begin developing your goals, be aware that sneaky bottlenecks may limit you.  Look for them in the following places to ensure that you haven't overestimated your growth capacity:

• Suppliers - make sure that your suppliers can support your proposed growth.  If not, make sure that you can find secondary or even tertiary suppliers.
• Customers - evaluate your current customers, and understand their business.  What are your customers' plans for the next year?  What is the market doing, in general and in your specific industry?  You may know intuitively that new business is out there, but how are you going to connect with that business?
• Production - go through you production process and identify the bottlenecks and at what capacity that they become limiting.  What works at this level or sales may begin to unravel at a greater level. 
• Staff - evaluate your current staff's capacity for change, ability to prioritize, and work ethic. Sometimes bottlenecks are hidden in your current staff.  Inefficiencies or inadequacies in your current staff may not surface until the pressure is on. 

         Identifying your potential bottlenecks to growth is just the first step.  Continue the process by determining how you are going to open it up and improve the flow in that area.  Brainstorm with the rest of your company not just the goals, but the path to get there.

What experiences have you had with bottlenecks?  What did you do to overcome them (or have you)?