Smart executives keep learning, always expanding their knowledge and understanding of business best practices. But just applying these best practices to your business without considering the implications on your business model can have dramatic negative effects.

Let’s say, for example, that you read Good To Great – which advocates heated debates when developing business strategy.  Now a small business owner might think of this as a great method for uncovering the best that their company has to offer.  But this method also creates tremendous turmoil within an organization.  Turmoil that can disrupt the normal day to day operations of the rank and file.

In smaller organizations, this discourse only works if it is kept within finite parameters.  Ideally discussions are held off site, and then after serious debate a single vision is brought to the company as a whole.   Specific roles and tasks in line with that single vision are assigned to key individuals.