How fast can you manage change and respond to your clients and culture?
First, let me say that speed is not usual. Most people prefer to avoid quick changes and focus on several studies and meetings. I’m not saying that speed should come without meetings or planning. I just notice that companies spend too much time on planning, meetings, and implementations.
If companies are going to a make a difference in 2015, they need to assess their current culture, inside, (employees and work processes) and outside, (clients and product/service deliverables).
Decision-making is really the key. Who are the key decision-makers in your company? Is this process a collaborative effort or a top-down approach? Each company needs to find a process that works for their company. I don’t believe it is a cookie-cutter type of system.
Why is speed so critical today?
Here are some reasons:
- Have you looked at the stock market recently? Very volatile..constant changes
- Look at the internet – information is being passed 24×7
- Mobile – More people are spending time on their smartphones than their televisions
- Companies can receive money transactions in person and online.
- People want answers asap
- Companies need to continue to grow their revenue and accounts
- Continue to keep up with customer demands. (We are into the 8th year of the iPhone)
- Implement new technologies and innovations
- Aspire to continue to hire the best employees
Would a 3-5 year plan be appropriate in meeting these particular goal above? Most company executives can’t afford a down-year or down-quarter for that matter. The days of short-term and long-term planning are quickly dying and being replaced by project team summaries and client/employee input.
Are you seeing this type of change in your company?
Measurement
As I have talked about in previous articles in 2015, I believe companies are just starting to measure performance in the areas of worker productivity, response marketing, client service and other areas. Speed, being one of those metrics that will be measured with respect to these areas.
Improved Turnaround Time
Be an agent of speed! Negotiate with your teams and look for ways to improve communication regarding company projects and initiatives. Insist on improving turnaround times and look for better efficiencies with respect to processes.
Update Mentality
It’s all about speed in 2015! How fast can you implement new processes or update current processes. Think of yourself as constantly releasing updates. What/When will your next company update be? What will it look like and what will be affected? Use words like update, innovation, new and improvements and stay away from classic terms like change, strategic planning and long-term objectives.
Finally…What I have seen when companies adopt speed
- Growing companies get noticed more because their information is often communicated to all parties both inside the company and outside to customers and prospective clients.
- When people embrace speed, deadlines take on a whole new meaning in serving clients and meeting company inititiatives
- It is a more exciting atmosphere
- Yes, it can be stressful, but their is a drive to improve performances more quickly
It is time to embrace speed as a part of our work culture.
photo credit: Kevin Krejci via photopin cc