Saw Teeth

Saw teeth.  This is what we call a certain trend line that many organizations experience.

There are numerous business challenges that plague leaders and their organizations.  But suffice it to say, that is not what you are probably looking for.  God willing, the aim for most is to continually scale.

At Blue Elevator™, we refer to scaling simply as repeatable growth.

In a perfect world, you start a business.  And, depending on your target trajectory, you continue to grow each year.  God willing,  you hope to experience uninterrupted, continual growth.  This is the ideal for most.

But, in reality, it can and does often look much different.

Saw Teeth – A Flashback In Time

I was reminded of this phenomenon recently.  I was blessed to be invited to a meeting with some key people that were assembled to possibly launch a business.  One of the participants, a person I greatly respect, was there.  And, he reminded me of this “saw teeth” (also called “shark teeth”) concept that he recalled hearing from me many years ago when we worked together.  And, that’s in part what prompted me to write this article.  I don’t recall the specifics, but chances are his recollection was probably because it was something we were dealing with in an organization I was leading.  Hey – it can happen to any of us.  You.  Me.  Anyone.

What Does Your Trend Line Look Like?

So, let’s get personal.  What does your trend line look like?  Is it an ever-ascending line?  In a perfect world, you hope your organization’s growth and development has a nice trend line.  And, this looks like a continual up-slope.

What It Often Looks Like: Saw Teeth

Or, does your trend line resemble saw teeth?  Maybe you’ve experienced or observed this “saw teeth” trend line.  That is, a trend line that alternates up and down.  And, of course, everything in between:

• Growth one year.
• A plateau the next.
• Maybe a decline.
• Maybe the same result +/- year after year.

Whatever the case, the trend line is self-revealing.

Getting Out Of The Saw Teeth Business

So, if your organization’s trend line isn’t continually ascending, then something is amiss.  You don’t want to experience business that goes up and down, plateaus, and does everything else in between.  Therefore, if this is the case, we need to ask “Why?”

Do you want to get out of the saw teeth business?

The Big Challenge

So, here’s the challenge: When it comes to business and organizational growth, there’s so many moving parts.  Seemingly, you could have everything right – but one thing off.  And, this one thing could be holding you back.

On the other hand, there could be a handful of things holding you back.

The antidote for saw teeth is to continually Innovate, Accelerate, Replicate™.

Take Heart

So many issues.  Yet, so little time.  But, take heart!

Because at Blue Elevator™, that’s one of the reasons we’re here.

God willing, we help leaders scale their organizations.

Where are you headed?

Contact us!  We’d love to help you get there.