Change is a big part of work and life.
Inflexibility is rarely a virtue, especially when it comes to business. The landscape of business history is littered with failed business leaders who were either unwilling or too slow to change their thinking. As a business leader, you must be willing to adjust to changing circumstances or risk the consequences. In truth, the only constant in life is change. Markets change. Customer attitudes change. Business methodologies change, technology changes, everything changes and so must you.
You can never take success for granted. It is often hard to accept that what got you here won’t get you where you need to go. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard clients bemoan the fact that a long-term business relationship has suddenly ended or that the market, as a whole, has shifted its buying behavior not in their favor. Being good at what you do will work for a while but it’s just as important to know how the definition of good is changing and why. No one wins a race standing still or running backward. In business, you must keep your competitive edge.
Changing before external forces make you change takes courage. Initially, the signs of what you need to do aren’t always obvious. You may even get conflicting advice. However, commit your organization to continually striving for positive momentum.
- Do your homework
- Read industry journals and publications
- Stay connected with key clients
- Solicit feedback from front line employees
- Regularly network with talented colleagues and peers
- Seek out clarity not certainty
There are no perfect business decisions.
Life tends to reward those who act and build the capability to adjust course as they move forward. It’s better to be the pioneer of your own future success than to be stuck in the past, too committed to the present, or waiting for the perfect time to act. You must be willing to change to remain successful!
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