Ignoring the Signs that your Business may be in Trouble.
After the initial shock of going into a full spin during my trial flying lesson, I continued training and was eventually allowed to do my first long-distance solo flight. That’s when I learned a valuable business lesson: Always watch the signs carefully.
One sunny morning in September, I prepared for my first long-distance solo flight (2 hours and 40 minutes) from Pietermaritzburg to Estcourt, then Eshowe, and back to Pietermaritzburg. I filed my flight plan with Durban, performed my checks, and took off into clear blue skies with just a hint of clouds.
Estcourt was an easy leg, and I headed for Eshowe. I followed the flight plan perfectly, arrived on time, and felt quite pleased with myself. Feeling confident, I casually glanced at my navigation notes and turned onto what I believed was the correct heading.
That’s when things started going wrong.
I was heading straight out to sea!
Realizing my mistake, I quickly checked my instruments and saw I had mistakenly turned onto my airspeed instead of the correct heading. I corrected my course and settled into a comfortable cruise back towards Pietermaritzburg. You can’t miss it, right? There’s Pietermaritzburg and Midmar Dam—time to relax and enjoy the scenery.
After some time, I decided to verify my position. To my surprise, the landmarks below didn’t match my map. That’s when I knew: I was lost. Still, I kept flying, hoping to recognize something familiar. Then, air traffic control instructed me to switch to the Pietermaritzburg frequency. I must be close, right?
That’s when my instructor’s voice came over the radio: “Andre, where are you?”
I spotted a tower in the distance and confidently replied, “Joining inactive 16.” But something felt off.
The response? “No, you’re not close to Pietermaritzburg—you’re heading toward the Alverston tower near Botha’s Hill.”
Realizing my mistake, I did the only thing I considered reasonable—I flew straight ahead until I saw the highway and followed it back to Pietermaritzburg.
The Business Lesson
This experience is a perfect analogy for what happens in business. When things are going well, it’s easy to relax, feel comfortable just cruising along. But if you don’t regularly check the signs, you may be drifting off course without realizing it—until a serious wake-up call forces you to act.
That’s why reading the early signs of deviation from your planned route and ultimate objective is critical. The real question is: Can you recover in time, or has your business drifted too far off track?
Signs That Your Business Might Be Off-Track
In the realm of HR and business performance, here are some key indicators that you may be veering off course:
- High employee turnover
- Decreased productivity
- Frequent conflicts
- Increased absenteeism
- Lack of employee engagement
- Low morale
Focusing solely on these aspects, however, may mean missing the bigger picture. It’s crucial to use a more comprehensive set of data to evaluate whether you’re still on target to achieve your vision, mission, and strategic objectives.
Looking Beyond the Obvious
The most effective business leaders don’t just rely on historical data—they also anticipate trends and opportunities. This forward-looking approach is especially vital for small businesses, which can quickly adapt to changes in the environment, industry, and social landscape.
A proper data monitoring strategy should include indicators across your Critical Success Factors:
- Employees – Engagement, satisfaction, and retention trends
- Customers – Feedback, repeat business, and satisfaction scores
- Financials – Cash flow, profitability, and revenue growth
- Systems & Operations – Efficiency, adaptability, and innovation
Are You Still on Course? Let’s Find Out.
Are you sure your business is still on track? Let’s have a quick conversation to check your bearings—before a major course correction is needed.
[Click here to set up an exploratory meeting] to discuss how I can help you assess and monitor the key data that ensures your business stays on course towards success.