Entrepreneur's Guide to Managing Growth and Handling Crises

Designed for those who want to take charge of their lives by starting a business, "The Entrepreneur's Guide" series provides practical, accessible, and authoritative advice on all the major issues in establishing and growing a new venture - from writing a business plan to hiring the best people to managing cash flow. Each book, written by an expert in the field, includes wisdom, tales from the trenches, worksheets, templates, sample documents, and resource lists. In short, the series helps entrepreneurs leverage their time and money, giving them confidence and making the road to success smoother and more certain.Entrepreneurs predictably become overconfident just when they think they have it made. A crisis of leadership and/or direction follows, usually having to do with mismanaged growth. At this point, van Dijk argues, the structure of the organization needs to become more formal and "built to last." He demonstrates how companies in crisis can overcome challenges by changing the way they handle customers, putting new processes and procedures in place, and managing employees in a more professional manner. In addition to tips, tactics, prescriptions, and strategies, this book also features: diagnostic checklists and worksheets, a glossary of key terms, a full chapter devoted to case studies of successes and failures, and an annotated list of resources.