As business owners and Entrepreneurs, we are constantly navigating through obstacles and setbacks. Whether it’s looking for unique ways to set ourselves apart from the competition, finding and retaining new team members, or keeping up with the daily grind…
These happen to be the challenges we can see and know we must conquer. But what about the obstacles we can't see?
The hidden issues that could be quietly derailing our progress—Those are the ones we often don't even know exist.
It's a classic case of "You don't know what you don't know," and it can be just as important, (if not more so), than the hurdles we're already tackling.
Take, for instance, the story of Balaam’s Donkey… 👇
In Numbers 22-24, we read about the sorcerer and prophet Balaam, on his way to curse the Israelites as requested by the Moabite King Balak. However, an obstacle appears that only his donkey can see: An angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword.
Each time the donkey tries to avoid the danger, Balaam, unable to see the angel, becomes frustrated and reacts by punishing the donkey.
It wasn’t until G-d gave the donkey the ability to speak that Balaam realized the critical feedback she was desperately trying to communicate…There was a deadly obstacle right in front of him that he was BLIND to. This story teaches us a very valuable lesson… Be open to receiving feedback from every level of your organization (or even unusual sources).
In every organization, ensuring every voice is heard—(NOT just those in the boardroom)—Can uncover critical insights that might otherwise be overlooked. A company that implements this strategy beautifully is Toyota. They created a unique approach to employee feedback called the Andon Cord. 👇
This system empowers ANY employee on the production line to pull a cord that stops all production if they notice a problem or a defect.
Doesn’t matter if they’re a seasoned manager who has been at Toyota for 20+ years, or the newest assembly line worker who just joined last week.
Every voice is heard.
Once all production is halted, a team leader would immediately go ask why the rope was pulled. Then, together, the leader and the team could work to solve the problem and restart production.
This immediate feedback mechanism ensures that issues are addressed as soon as they arise, rather than being ~swept~ under the rug.
At Business Nitrogen, we embrace a similar philosophy. We believe that great ideas and crucial feedback can come from ANYONE, regardless of their position or how long they’ve been working here.
So, how can we apply this to your business?
Create an environment where every team member feels not only empowered, but obligated to speak up. This can transform the way you operate and help you scale faster, easier, and smarter.
Now, here are 3 things I want you to think about this week:
- What can you do to make it easier for everyone at your company to share their ideas, questions, and concerns without fear of retribution?
- How will you make sure you really listen and then respond to what your team tells you?
- How will you ensure these changes are helping your team and your business do better?
As we move forward, let's keep in mind the lesson from Balaam’s Donkey: Sometimes those who seem least likely to see the whole picture are the ones who notice what others cannot. Let’s make sure we’re listening to all voices, as everyone has something valuable to contribute.
To your success,
David