Why take a scan?

Why do we take medical scans and tests? Primarily to give ourselves assurance that our health is ok - or to spot potential problems before they get too serious.

• It takes a certain attitude though, it can be very easy to stay blissfully ignorant. And we all know that feeling of dread waiting for the results!

• Scanning your business is very similar. We often don't really want to dig too deeply into the complexity of our organization for fear of exposing the rats nest lurking behind the scenes.

However if we all accept the idea that we need to take a more proactive, preventative approach to healthcare how can we argue against the same for organizational healthcare?

ORGANIZATIONS ARE SYSTEMS

Organizations are made up of people working with (and within) systems that align people to accepted standards and norms. These are often out of date with the real world.

• We are affected by self inflicted challenges and by dynamics out of our control. Just like we are in our personal lives and across society generally.

• Our appreciation of, and attitude and response to challenges and opportunities will determine how 'healthy' our organization is.

• We have a choice in how we decide to respond to these dynamics - all of them. There is always an element of luck when it comes to how things work out - and of course the unknown factor of the decisions of others and how that affects our choices.

Ultimately it's down to us. So, the better our appreciation and attitude the more ready and able we are to make better choices.

A significant amount of time and money gets invested in change related initiatives. Far too much of that investment doesn't lead to a good return. Our general reluctance to delve below the surface in favour of quick fixes and short term gains has to be costing money that could be much better utilised.