Solve problems & take decisions
The ability to be decisive and to solve a problem within an appropriate time frame is a core skill for anyone in business. Often decisions need to be taken by a team rather than just one person - the knowledge of a team is usually far greater than the knowledge of just one person. One challenge is how to define the parameters for taking a decision. What factors need to be considered and what risks need to be assessed? Far too often senior people get distracted by detail rather than focusing on the bigger picture.
Leading change
Businesses can quickly vanish off the map when they fail to respond to market forces. As a successful leader you need a thorough understanding of ways to generate positive innovation. Communicating change in process or service should motivate rather than disrupt. Handled wrongly and your best staff and clients are going to walk; handled well and your business is going to grow. Learn to create captivating reasons for people to choose to work with you rather than with the competition. Be active in helping your clients to appreciate new reasons to buy from you rather than from your rivals.
Strategic thinking
Many entrepreneurs and business leaders are so preoccupied by working in their businesses that they forget to work on their businesses. People are naturally drawn into detail and fire fighting at the expense of appreciating the bigger picture. Do you set aside sufficient time for creating a longer term vision of the future and for taking business-critical decisions? Without management capacity to think strategically there is going to be no alignment between how you use your resources and what you want to achieve. Put directly, if everyone in your business doesn't know what you are trying to achieve and doesn't understand what they should be doing to get there, you are going to fail in your objectives.
Disruptive innovation 'outside the box'
Businesses attach a high value to processes that create innovation-driven growth - maybe by developing niche markets that reduce competition for which premium rates can be charged. Sometimes this means developing the necessary skills to re-package what you already do in innovative ways. Being different, or just being perceived to be different, is a proven way to sustain growth even during the most challenging moments of economic uncertainty.
Your new strengths and abilities
- Facilitating effective team brainstorming sessions.
- Encouraging quieter team members to speak up.
- Drawing out potential from half-baked ideas.
- Challenging the 'norm' and uncover faster methodologies that deliver more value to your client.
- Joining up people from different parts of your organisation.
- Knowledge of outsourcing options.
- Risk analysis being undertaken (for change and for just staying still).
- Searching out quick wins.
- Writing and speaking persuasively.
- Communicating and managing change initiatives.
Did you know?
If your business performance stays still for a year it has actually deteriorated.
Who would benefit?
For all those managing change and seeking to differentiate b2b services in any competitive market.
To discuss a current or potential need, contact Robin Johnson at OvationXL
on 0845 260 7700 or