Newsletter March 2009
CEO Corner
by Dave Murray
Manning the Helm…Or Simply Riding the Wave?
I’m assuming that the buzz is going around that we are moving our operations into a new facility. To some of you, that probably doesn’t sound like a big deal. To others, simply considering the notion is enough to bring on a panic attack. I find myself swinging back and forth between the two extremes like riding the crest of an ocean wave. There are plenty of ups and downs on that wave. Sometimes it’s downright alarming how quickly that flow can change. But, as the move date inevitably approaches, we are definitely beginning to see the end of the storm with choppy waters and calmer seas right beyond.
As the CEO, sometimes I have to man the helm of this ship, and at other times, I simply have to ride the waves and rely on the crew. At this point, it’s conceivable you’re asking yourself “What’s up with Dave? Has he finally cracked?” Let me explain what I mean. It’s my job to man the helm and hold the wheel of the ship so to speak. Despite all the uncertainty and risk, I have to keep us steering straight and true. That can be a challenge to say the least, especially when the waters are uncharted. Here we are moving our entire operations, but we have to continue providing all the same service and support levels to our customers that we always have. It’s the same circumstances as a cruise liner. The passengers of that cruise liner do not want to experience any rough seas! They just want a nice, smooth cruise. When it comes to our upcoming move to that new facility, our customers do not want to experience any rough seas either. So, that’s the captain’s job – keep the ship steering true and avoid any major storms, but rely on the crew to do their jobs well and keep the passengers comfortable and happy. Well, the Captain and crew at Convergence have charted their course and it’s time to push off the dock.
Okay, so maybe my analogy seems a little corny, but hopefully you are seeing the relationship. I’ve found out there are times I have to completely let things go, trust in my crew, and simply ride the wave. What I mean is that there are so many things that can’t be controlled. Plans go awry. Expenses come up. Schedules change. It’s very similar to the waves on the ocean. But, just like a ship’s crew is well-trained to manage the waves, my crew is trained and ready as well. I’ve got a good crew, and while we don’t have to worry about not making it to shore, there are plenty of things regarding the move I just have to leave to them. We have to cut our internet and phone services, retain contract movers, and the list goes on. These things need to be seamless so we don’t impact our customers. All in all, it’s too much for one person, so I’ve got to trust in my team. I’ve got to ride the wave.
Hopefully you are beginning to see the relationship in this analogy. But, the real point to focus on is not the Captain, but the crew. Fortunately, our staff at Convergence is made up of well trained and fine tuned employees. They’re ready to take on this huge task. On Friday April 3rd beginning about 5:00pm we will cut-over the phones, the internet connections, pack up our computers and begin the journey about a mile away. There are no storms in the forecast as the crew has charted a careful course. They have planned out everything so that on Saturday morning our computer monitoring begins almost immediately to protect our customers. Then, on Monday morning as our customers arrive in their own offices they will not have experienced any disruption in service.
In closing, let’s bring this ship back to reality. Sometimes leadership is required, while at other times, you have to be willing to go with the flow. With this move, I’ve had to be the Captain on the deck and at other times, I’ve had to rely on our crew to get us where we want to go. It’s a give and take – perhaps like the ebb and flow of the sea. It’s all about reacting to the moment and keeping our eyes on that distant point on the horizon where we want to arrive. Sometimes you man the helm, other times you ride the wave.
Let’s see – March: that’s kite-flying month, isn’t it?
End of the first quarter as well. Well, here’s to hoping your kites and your business quarter fly high.
Your friends at Convergence Networks
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