Rebuilding

hoopchi — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:34:46 -0000

I have had the opportunity in my career to take over two very different businesses but with the same goal in each situation: turn the business into a productive winner. In one case, I entered a place that was actually running pretty well. The processes and procedures were pretty good, the people were pretty good, everything was just pretty good. In that case, I made a few adjustments, tweaked a few procedures and hired and fired the right people. In months, the place was running like a top and it just took leadership to keep it there.

In a second situation, I entered a business that was reeling with problems, confusion, a lack of attention to detail and it seemed almost as if there was nothing that could be done to right the ship. Two other managers before me had tried to no avail and had left. I realized quickly that we needed wholesale changes. Processes needed changed, people needed to be replaced, and a new attitude needed to be instilled in the environment. I went in with guns blazing and quickly earned the ire of many an employee and former employee. I made drastic changes to how the systems operated and how things were done. And I held people accountable to a goal and a level of service that had not been in place before. It was a struggle. I would even go so far as to say it was mighty. And it did not get fixed overnight. But I am happy to say that 3 years later this particular business was the most successful in our city and was voted such by the public.

What does this have to do with Kentucky basketball? I think many of us felt that our program was like the first business. All we needed was for BCG to come in and tweak a few things and change a few plays and suddenly we would become an overnight contender for national titles. Many of us thought the pieces to the puzzle were there they just needed put together.

Unfortunately, I feel that we are in the same position as the second business. Puzzle pieces that we thought were there are missing. Attitudes are not right. Personnel are not right. And it's probably only going to get worse before it gets better.

It sure is hard right now to be a Cat fan. It hurts every day I have to go into work and face 100 employees that know I bleed blue and want to see it. Gardner-Webb. San Diego. Houston. UAB.

I hate it.

But, we have to stay the course on this one. We have a team here that needs major rebuilding. We have no one on our team that has ever been to a Final Four. We have two seniors that are career underachievers and have never been leaders. We have had major injuries. We are learning new systems. And we don't know how to compete.

This is not going to get fixed overnight. I too am questioning some of Coach's moves. I don't understand some of what he is doing. But it's too early to lose hope.

It's too early to give up on Ramel and Joe and the rest. Let's not forget, these are college kids we are talking about and the pressure here is unbelievable. I say either get behind the process or stop watching. Cause it's going to be a while before things get better.

Now if things are not better in 2 years, we are talking a different story...

SB Nation User Blog: hoopchi

Rebuilding