Leading Change

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
~ Albert Einstein

Assume that your markets will change.
Assume that your customers’ needs will change.
Assume that the technology you use will change.

Ideally, leaders “look forward” frequently enough and with clear vision to see what’s coming. The best time to initiate a change process is when things are going well, so that you can do it calmly and logically. Too often, people wait until the crisis hits to make changes, and that makes them stressful and expensive.

If your markets will change, prepare to bid in those new markets. Keep effective, two-way communication with your clients. Ask what they need now and what they may need in the coming year or two. Get at least two people on your team to learn the new software and then do a few lunch-and-learns to familiarize the full group.

And don’t forget to think outside the box. Ask your team members to consider where they think the industry is going and use their input to develop action plans for when those things begin to happen.

(image generated using Midjourney)