Why is Complacency Dangerous to a Business?

Complacency is the single most dangerous threat to a business. It shows itself throughout the culture within the organization. The symptoms become evident when we see actions that support beliefs like “maintaining the status quo” or “it worked fine the last time” or “don’t rock the boat” or “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it” or the most infamous statement of all: “That’s the way we always did it.”

When you let complacency take hold in your organization the following outcomes are likely:

You lose your competitive edge.

You begin to regularly tolerate mediocre performance.

Your competition gets stronger and faster than you, gaining market share without you even realizing it until it is too late.

You not only lose your better performers due to them not being challenged, but you are also unable to attract new talent.

You lose customers, money and eventually your business.

So, what’s the solution to fight off the threat of complacency? In the simplest way, the solution starts with you, the leader, and your personal view and habits towards your own development. Why? Because the simple fact is when you get better, your team and your business will follow.

Do you take your skills for granted? Do you actively and regularly challenge your knowledge and skills levels, and look for ways to improve them? Or do you think you can wing it with your own career and the future of your business? What are you doing to enhance your leadership skills? How do you relate to your team? Do they buy into the expectations you set? Do you challenge your team to also look for opportunities to question the status quo?

Start questioning your own status quo with respect to your skills and knowledge. Look for ways to get better: Budget time and money each quarter for your own development and the development of your team.

Every day, look for opportunities to not only lead your team but to be the example for them to model so that complacency will find a home elsewhere.