The Bridge the Gap Process
Survey the
damage
Repair the
foundation
Prepare for
the future
Open the
bridge
The details of the Bridge the Gap process
Survey the damage
The first ninety days
This is the time that must be dedicated to surveying the organization and the key stakeholders.
Face the brutal truth
Leaders must delve into the details and not be afraid of what they might find.
Know the organizational and team culture
With an open mind and willingness to listen, leaders can deeply understand the culture of the organization during the first ninety days.
Engage your team
Once the leader has completed steps 1 to 3, he or she should engage the team to begin implementing change.
Repair the foundation
Establish the vision
Leaders need to determine and then convey a clear vision for the organization, one that can be understood and easily implemented by everyone.
Define what is mission critical
The leadership team must identify and invest in mission critical processes and people.
Grow from within
Every great organization requires excellent, committed team members. This chapter describes how leaders can invest in and develop people who already work in the company.
Prepare for the future
Go and see
Like a military scout checking out the land before a battle, the principle of “go and see” can enable leaders to more clearly identify new opportunities—to better envision the future of the company and help prepare for that future.
Identify future personnel needs
Thriving businesses in rapidly changing times need qualified personnel, people who are equipped to embrace new technologies and processes. Thus, leaders need to have a long-term approach for creatively recruiting those people.
Establish partnerships
Why carry all the weight alone? To establish a strong foundation for the future, leaders should develop partnerships with schools, government agencies, and community organizations in mutually beneficial ways.
Open the bridge
Expect Greatness
When leaders expect greatness from their teams, people experience dignity and self-worth that inspires them to reach their full potentials, thereby making better contributions to the company.
Give people tools to succeed
To succeed, leaders need to make sure that their teams have the right tools for their jobs.
Let the horses run
Finally, leaders should “let the horses run.” Team members need freedom to work according to their natural talents and personalities and cultural backgrounds. Giving people freedom builds morale and increases success.