I went to the dentist for a routine inspection last week, and he arranged another appointment to deal with some minor decay. He commented that he couldn’t chart it accurately, but to remind him on my return that it is “below gum level”!
It’s now been sorted – but as I lay on the chair at his mercy, I began to think of that phrase – and how we, in our organisations need to know what is happening “below gum level”.
It’s easy to see what is happening on the surface – it’s at eye level and we can’t miss it – though not everyone deals with what is right in front of them! But what is happening below the surface? Do we have our ear to the ground? Do we hear what people are talking about? Do we listen for those comments and conversations that will alert us when things are not as they should be? Are we relying on others coming to tell us of their concerns – and are they really going to?
We need to find ways of getting this information. We need to know about the decay that is occurring “below gum level”. It would be good to take preventative measures and prevent it happening in the first place – but that isn’t always possible. We need to have mechanisms in place to find out early when those problems are beginning and stop them before they escalate.
Decay is not a good thing – but if dealt with effectively can actually bring benefits that you would miss out on if you hadn’t dealt with it. However, if it is left it will get worse and then it becomes a bad thing and causes untold damage – sometimes damage that you cannot repair or recover from.
The decay in my tooth was minor – and has been dealt with and removed. Please look “below gum level” in your organisations, identify the decay and deal with it – before it reaches the point of no return. Put mechanisms in place to help you to spot the issues before they go too far.