Time for Change?
The past few months has certainly been a rollercoaster for many businesses. Even amongst our client base, we’ve had business owners who have changed their entire way of working; from how and where their employees work through to the way in which they generate sales and even who they sell to.
For some businesses, the pandemic has accelerated change – particularly where it comes to the use of technology and selling online.
The problem with the current situation is that it is unprecedented; due to it having never been faced before, we have all been at somewhat of a loss of how to deal with it. To compound this, changes in legislation have been coming thick and fast; it seems that just as you get used to operating in one way, there is an update to policy, meaning further changes are required.
In fact, one of the biggest challenges for businesses has been keeping pace with the ever-changing situation; working out how the changes will affect them and ultimately deciding what to do about it.
What has emerged from the Covid-19 crisis is that those businesses that are able to adapt, and quickly, will be better placed than their competitors.
Here are some top tips for embracing change:
Keep an open mind
You may have a set idea in your head, or you may have designs on a particular tool or operating model that you have seen another business using, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right solution for your business. Spend time doing your research; there are lots of options out there, each of which will have its own merits.
Use all of the tools at your disposal; also seeking professional advice and recommendations where possible, also doing the sums to ensure that the changes you plan to make are financially viable.
It is always worth taking the time to run your idea past a handful of trusted employees, business contacts or family members for feedback. There is almost always another way of doing things, and one of these may be better than your original idea. Sometimes, gathering feedback can highlight an obvious flaw, or help to hone the plan from the outset. A word of warning – if you’re working to a tight timescale, keep your pool of confidents small – design by committee is likely to slow the process down and may lead to you losing sight of the original goal.
Put progress over perfection
Striving for perfection is something to be admired amongst business owners; having that much passion for what you do or the product you produce; accepting nothing but the best; shows the team you work with and the outside world that you really care. However, as the saying goes, perfection can also be the enemy of progress. If you spend forever going to and fro with your team or supplier, constantly tweaking and updating, it will take you far longer to get to a finished product, sometimes meaning you will lose your competitive advantage. The good thing about digital technology is that it can usually be tweaked along the way, so the initial version that goes live doesn’t have to stay the same, it can evolve and be improved over time.
Keep monitoring
Making changes in a business can bring positive long-term benefits. However, making and implementing the change isn’t the end of the story…Once in place, it’s important to monitor and manage EVERYTHING to make sure the business isn’t slipping or going off track. This applies from the small things, such as making sure new technology is working correctly without glitches, through to analysing performance and profitability.
Making changes in the current climate can mean the difference between your business failing to survive, or being able to thrive. To speak to our experienced business consultants for advice, please get in touch.
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