How Do You Destroy an Organization?

Before diving into the rest of this article, take a moment to think about how you would destroy an organization—not through physical damage, but by undermining its very structure and culture. What would be on your list? Toxic environment? Poor systems? Lack of development? Poor leadership? Complacency?

It’s difficult to limit such a list to just five factors because there are countless ways to erode an organization from within. Each of these factors plays a critical role in organizational dysfunction, but I want to focus on one that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late: complacency.

Complacency: The Silent Destroyer

Complacency can destroy an organization over time by fostering a stagnant environment. It happens slowly, as organizations create processes or systems, then shift their focus elsewhere, believing the system doesn’t need ongoing attention. You may have heard the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That mindset is precisely what leads to organizational decline.

Processes and systems that work today may not work as efficiently tomorrow. The market changes, customer expectations evolve, and even technology improves. When organizations stop evaluating and refining their systems, they allow inefficiencies to creep in, and that, over time, becomes a major barrier to growth.

What Complacency Looks Like

In many cases, an organization will develop a process or system that works well initially. The team is excited about it, and it delivers results. But then, other priorities take over, and the focus shifts away from maintaining or improving that process. After all, why bother updating something that’s not actively causing problems? Over time, however, the process becomes outdated, less efficient, and ultimately hinders progress.

This lack of attention to process improvement is a slow but effective way to destroy an organization. Employees may begin to feel frustrated with inefficient systems. Customers may notice slower service or reduced quality. Eventually, the organization falls behind competitors who have made innovation and continuous improvement part of their culture.

Steps to Combat Complacency

So how do you prevent complacency from creeping into your organization and causing this gradual decline? Here are a few steps that can help ensure your processes and systems stay fresh and effective:

1. Year One: Evaluate and Reflect

After the first year of creating or implementing a new process or system, take a step back and ask yourself: “Can I make this better?” Even if everything is running smoothly, there are always opportunities for improvement. This could involve automating steps, removing unnecessary tasks, or simply streamlining communications. By reviewing the process at the one-year mark, you stay ahead of potential problems.

2. Year Two: Get a Fresh Perspective

By the second year, it’s time to bring in someone who’s been working with you to evaluate the process. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot inefficiencies that the original creator may overlook. This helps identify areas for improvement that you might not have considered. Someone who’s been working within the system may have valuable insights on what needs adjusting.

3. Year Five: Rebuild from the Ground Up

After five years, it’s time to take the entire process back down to its bones and rebuild it. This involves a more thorough, deliberate approach, where you deconstruct each element of the system and examine it critically. Is it still aligned with your goals? Is it making things easier, or is it now slowing you down? This step takes time and effort but is crucial to avoid stagnation and ensure your organization’s processes remain dynamic and responsive to change.

Why This Matters

Complacency, unlike other destructive forces such as toxic leadership or poor culture, is subtle. It often goes unnoticed until the damage has been done. But by intentionally creating a culture of continuous improvement, you can keep your organization from falling into this trap. Make process evaluation a routine practice, not just a one-time event.

Conclusion

While there are many ways to destroy an organization—whether through poor leadership, lack of development, or toxic environments—complacency stands out because of its subtlety. It slowly erodes efficiency, progress, and morale. By regularly reviewing and improving your processes, you not only avoid this pitfall but also create a culture that thrives on innovation and forward momentum.

So, as you think about your organization, ask yourself: When was the last time I reviewed our key processes? Can they be improved? If you make regular improvements part of your culture, you’ll prevent complacency from becoming the silent destroyer of your organization.