Business has never been a particularly stable thing. However, there was a time in the past, when a change was temporary followed by a period of relative stability. More recently, change has become constant. It is necessary to acknowledge change and realize that it is continuous, a way of life, and not a one-time event that needs to be survived. A growing small business may see many stages when major change occurs. This can be anything from a move to a new office, expansion, a new branch location, and new suppliers, to acquisitions and mergers. Nothing is constant or certain.
Change Your Thinking
These changes can be a challenge, bringing added strain to the organization. People like hanging on to old habits and do not see change as positive. Particularly, organizations are often unwilling to stop doing what they do well, even if it is not of value to customers any longer. It is easy to get stuck in the thinking patterns that brought them to where they are. This is in spite of the fact that this can no longer be useful in taking them any further.
It is imperative to break through traditional patterns of thinking and an “it has always been this way” mentality and focus all possible efforts on an approach that is beyond business-as-usual. The fast pace and constant changes in modern business require the utmost flexibility and adaptability in order for organizations to survive. With constant change being so much a part of life in business, there is a major need for business owners to manage the present while simultaneously planning the future.
These days, some jobs have taken on a totally new dimension. Business today makes new demands almost on a daily basis, requiring new work habits and changes in behavior. Business owners need to be willing and able to alter mindsets and techniques. Rather than continue with the old job behavior that seems to have worked in the past, one needs to learn new routines and make a change in mindset. One needs to shift paradigm and align the thinking with the revised company mission and new realities of the present work ethic and job world.
Managing Change Effectively
A fresh approach to managing change is needed today. Most businesses have been forced to move beyond the old, comfortable, day-to-day approach. The days of managing projects in isolation is gone; more practical is a more comprehensive approach with a broader view of their resources and any interdependence that exists between them.
The same approach needs to be adopted for change control. Instead of looking at change and analyzing its effect on an individual set of resources, many businesses are now taking a long-term approach to managing change. Responsibility of managing change has risen up the ladder to higher and higher executives as the businesses respond to the need for the ongoing change management.
Customer-Centric Thinking
All businesses need to focus their efforts primarily on doing the right thing for their customers. A mistake commonly made is ignoring how customer priorities and expectations have changed over time. In spite of having a focus on doing things right, one may fail in the absence of proper flexibility and change management. You must question what you can offer your customers that they will value above all else and be unable to get anywhere else. There is an enormous need to have a completely unwavering commitment to making a difference in your customers’ businesses. It is important that change is seen as an opportunity and proper management of change used as a way to provide a leading edge to your business.
