CHALLENGES, MISTAKES and LESSONS.
(From An Interview with Joe Cavolick)
What are the biggest challenges of a corporate move?
- Knowing everything that has to be done. Then planning,
organizing and coordinating execution the necessary details.
- Selecting competent contractors and vendors who
have the time and interest to meet the client’s needs.
- Raising key issues early so they can be dealt with
deliberately, rather than by default.
- Empowering employees as part of the planning process.
Then keeping them informed so they are supportive of conducting business at
the new location.
- Conducting the entire move with minimal disruption
to business and in a way that is transparent to the company’s customers.
What are the most common mistakes made in corporate relocations?
- Understanding the amount of human resources that can be diverted
to accomplish a successful move.
- Failure to assign to a single person the ultimate accountability
for the move and not providing that person with sufficient resources.
- Failure to develop early agreement on responsibilities and
accountabilities at every level of the organization.
- Failure to recognize and react quickly to events that
could jeopardize the move.
Over the years, what are the most crucial lessons you’ve
learned about company moves?
- Start early.
- Gain top management support.
- Raise difficult issues early and make tough decisions.
- Assemble the right teams.
- Involve everyone who will be affected.
- Communicate clearly and to the necessary people.
- Maintain clear lines of accountability and responsibility.
- Manage the details.
- Stay light, use humor and keep everyone confident in
a successful outcome.
Do you have a question you’d like Joe Cavolick to answer? E-mail him at:
j.cavolick@cavolickconsulting.com
Cavolick Consulting Group,
Inc. • 1621 Mission Hills Road, Suite 307
Northbrook, IL 60062 • PHONE: 847-753-9898 • FAX 847-753-9858
e-mail: j.cavolick@cavolickconsulting.com