Note: This is the 5th post in our Change is Good series
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. -Mahatma Ghandi
You've all heard the quote "a chain is only as good as its weakest link," and how it applies to a business. The problem with this metaphor is that in a chain, every link is doing exactly the same thing. It's just holding onto the links to its left and right. Not such a hard job.
I'd say a business is more like the human body. It's a complex system, with many parts that are connected, working together to stay alive. Each part has its own job, and does it well. A heart pumps blood. It wouldn't make a good lung.
It's the same thing in business. If your marketing department is great at using innovative, off-the-wall marketing techniques, don't make them release run-of-the-mill press releases or utilize standard marketing strategies. If your best sales guy has his customer database all set up on his Mac, don't force him to use a company PC.
Give the job to the person you know can do it. Market to the customers who are already sold on your brand. Know yourself, your employees, and your customers well, and don't make blind decisions based on "policy."