The World is Changing. Are you Ready for the What is Next?
No, I’m not talking about the next Apple “super secret” announcement. I’m also not going to sit here and predict what the “next” thing is, but I can tell you it will affect you and your company in ways you can’t imagine today. Why? Because the movement I’m referring to is not digital, though it may be played out in the digital arena. No, I’m referring to a cultural shift from what is “the norm” to what is “winning ______.” That isn’t a typo. ______ refers to whatever business you are in. It could be customers, clients, student admissions, employees, new products—anything. It’s so broad that I can’t define it for you. It is something you will have to figure out for your industry, company, and business. But trust me, the change is coming.
How do I know that change is in the air? Sure I’ve read the books, magazines, articles, blogs that say “it” is coming, but more importantly I’ve witnessed the change. I’ve seen it in people’s eyes. I’ve heard it in corners at conferences. I’ve read it on blogs. Employees, customers, end-users are fed up with “the norm.” They want, we want, something to change from the products and services we use. It could be from the lawyer that helps you buy a home or the server that brings your food to your table at dinner this weekend. We want something more than the usual service.
Do you settle for “the norm” or do you demand exceptionalism? Do you want your employees to do the bare minimum to get the job done, or do what it takes to make sure your clients are served to the point where they evangelize you and your services? I may sound like a Tom Peters presentation here, but maybe it is because he speaks some truth to the subject.
I know we can’t expect every employee to be “great.” It is impossible to expect every manager will understand that this change could affect your business to the point of being in the red or black this month. But that doesn’t mean the shift will wait. This movement is going to happen with our without you. So what are you going to do about it? Are you going to start to make changes in your company that will move with the shift or will you resist it? Will you seek out to understand why your customers are fed up with how you conduct business now? Or will you just continue to lose customers knowing you still have “that core customer base.” What happens when they leave? What do you do then?
What does this have to do with the “next” thing? It has to do with how business is being conducted today. It has to do with the fact that your company is losing top talent because you don’t understand the new culture of this generation. It has to do with the fact that your company is being talked about behind your back on blogs and online forums without you being part of the conversation. It has to do with the fact that old-school marketing and management doesn’t work like it used to. It has to do with the fact that short term profits don’t equal to long term success. That sometimes doing what is best for your customers in the long run might mean you miss your quarterly profit expectations by Wall Street. How long are you going to let the train roll by before you try and hop on?
Businesses are like cruise ships, they are hard to turn on a dime. It doesn’t have to be that way though. The behemoth can move in the right direction with the right captain running the ship. You just have to know where to point your compass—towards the setting sun or the rising sun.
Some might say that the big companies are doing fine. I say it only seems that way from the outside. Larger companies are slowly deteriorating from the inside out. What used to be done only by large companies is being done by small teams and shops around the world.
So how are you going to adjust? How are you, as managers, directors, CEOs, going to make the proper changes to remain competitive? Are you going to point your ship towards the setting sun or the rising one? Better make a decision quick, or before you can blink an eye the world will change and you won’t know what hit you.
Quick Vote
Loading ...
