There are countless companies similar to Sears, whose leadership has misconstrued NPS as customer service and dedicated employees as "lucky to have a job." Like cows that know how manure smells, employees dispassionately serve those paragons of the corner offices whose delusions obscure them from the warning signs of Sisyphus. Sears overlooked the incremental dalliances with obsolescence. Hedge fund leaders were ultimately merely hedge fund managers. Inept leaders, pomposity, empty shelves, arrogance and poor customer service sped the death knell for Sears. Writes Reuters in The Hindu:

The retailer’s problems, according to shoppers, former employees and vendors interviewed by Reuters, range from its limited assortment of merchandise to poor customer service. In addition, some said the retailer abandoned basic shop-keeping standards such as clean stores. And Mr. Lampert’s leadership over the years to save the chain hurt it more than helped.

The retailer, which for decades was considered the Amazon.com of its time, branched into industries as diverse as insurance, real estate and even broadcasting.

 And such it is. A company too complacent to change with change. Jim Woods

About Jim Woods

Jim Woods is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. His extensive cross-cultural expertise spans hundreds of companies. As President and senior consultant of Woods Kovalova Group, his proprietary leadership programs are engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world. Jim has a master’s degree in organizational development and human resources. He has been a university professor and is widely sought out for his extensive knowledge on changing human behavior. Hire Jim here.