Beware of the first straw on the camel's back

There is an old saying about the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Whilst this is a valid statement, in management, one must pay more attention to the first straw. Whether it’s people, processes, the economy, markets, even disruptive technologies the first significant sign of change is important. Ignoring it, just like ignoring a 60-year-old’s first heart attack, can be fatal.

This does not necessarily mean managers must jump at shadows, but they must pay close attention and assess the impact of anything that suggests a shift is at hand.

Often it is wise to look for patterns - to understand if a change is an aberration or the start of something new.

If an employee quits and as part of their exit raises concerns about their work environment, culture, responsiveness of superiors, work-load or frustration, these are important warning signs.

Similarly, customers that change their spending patterns, positive or negative should be given due consideration.

More importantly, the actions of n…