Seven ills of defensive mind-set

Being defensive in mind-set is DNA of someone who remains in submission, in order to protect him or his interests either because he feels threatened or unsure of what to do. This psychological condition invades into business as well. Consequently, there are seven ills that inflict quantum damages to the growth of a firm which has defensive mind-set:

1. Meek in accepting and adopting the status-quo at any time makes a defensive firm to be re-active all the time. It basically means that the firm will stick to what it has previously learnt and experienced. Therefore choices made in the past along with methods and tools it deployed in meeting with challenges remain almost same.

2. Herd mentality sets in where the firm feels it is safe to follow what others in similar circumstances do when attacked by leader in the pack. Not only does the firm not take any initiative to counter attack but searches for safe havens where it can hide for cover. This puts the firm in unenviable position with losing market share. But the saving grace is that it has so many companions to console with

3. Slow & cautious is the third ill that can sap its zest a lot. When a firm is slow moving technically it is dilly dallying and forced to a corner where it cannot make any independent decisions but to go with “groupthink” a phenomenon that denies elbow room to do what is right and required but to stick with the group consensus arrived at by the brigands of weak firms

4. Responding to the leader in submissive manner is the next ill. Defensive mind-set as business strategy gives double whammy. One is that the firm remains subservient to the command of the dominating leader. Second is that it prefers to be at the beck and call of the leader who has control over the defensive firm. But there is bright side too in the form of getting sub-contracting arrangements from the domineering firm as reward for its fealty.

5. Defensive mind-set as business strategy is always associated with being negative. Firm is perched on “Wait for It’ as the consoling mantra which propels it to make decision that does not go against the domineering leader on one hand and the other weaklings in the group on the other.

6. “Time and tide wait for no man” is the adage that should apply to every business that develops defensive mind-set. If the firm does not use favourable opportunity or is ready to manage an unfavourable threat the chances are that it is consigned to be a terrible loser. Ironically, a defensive mind-set begets defenceless in the face of any attack. Such business easily is a prey to the attacking wolf if not today, tomorrow.

7. Finally like in military the defensive firms get quite some sympathy from the media but not much of help or assistance from other businesses that are too busy defending their own stake. At the end of the day, a sense of helplessness pervades in the staff cadre who starts to jump out of the sinking ship. After all who likes to be associated with a laggard!

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail:   cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist