The 4 types of organizations – What stage is your Organizational Leadership in?

What type of organization are you?

When you first hear the question, your initial response may be:

• Product or Service company
• Profit, non-profit, government
• Retail, Restaurant, Engineering, etc.

One thing that I have learned over the last 16 years, all organizations fall into one of the following categories (and for lack of better terms, I’ll use the ones noted by Michael Watkins in The First 90 Days):

1. Startup
2. Turnaround
3. Realignment
4. Sustaining Success

What does each of these organizations look?

1.  Startup

Every organization or group was a startup at some point.  Startups that I have worked with typically have limited resources (capital, human resources, and technology).  These groups may be starting a new business, service, group, product, project, etc.  There is typically a steep learning curve and a lot of energy involved in a startup group.  Mentors are typically greatly appreciated by these groups to answer questions not readily available within the group.

2. Turnaround

A turnaround organization is interesting to work with.  This group is in trouble.  A big reason I’ve seen in several organizations is lack of organizational leadership (don’t misinterpret micro-managing for leading, they’re not the same).  A group like this may have lost most of its employees or members, their systems and processes may be severely outdated.  If this group doesn’t change, they are going to fail.  Failing could mean losing a job.  In worst case scenarios, this can involve loosing lives (think refinery and factory accidents).  This type of group typically needs a new foundation and leadership.

3. Realignment

An organization needing realignment has a foundation and multiple strengths, this group needs some redirection to get it back on the path to a sustaining success organization.  Maybe you are beefing up some of the leadership areas, realigning your target market or niche.

One organization I worked with was targeting seasonal workers and then wondering why they had trouble maintaining membership.  The excuse was that they were in a “Resort Town.”  The reality was the core target market/membership and organizational culture needed a shift.

4. Sustaining Success

A sustaining success organization is always building on their successes, they are on the cutting edge.  These groups are always challenging themselves and not rely on the status quo.  I’m working with four groups right now that are transitioning from the startup and realignment stages to this hopefully on the next year.  New startups may evolve from these groups, but at the same time there is the possibility of going down the downward cycle to realignment and turnaround.  (If you are at one of these groups and need an energetic mastermind to help with strategic planning, I’m always up for a new challenge!  Contact me!)

So based on this initial information…

What type of organization are you?

Leave me a comment or question…We’ll review these types of organizations further in additional posts…