Even established companies are now under pressure to develop new potential on their own. In my opinion, it is more worthwhile than ever to take the first bold step to actively shape the future of companies through change.
Whether it's digitalization, changing market requirements or increasing customer expectations — change affects every company. Anyone who sticks to habits now, whether out of convenience or fear of the new, is denying themselves the opportunity to take control of the future of companies. Admittedly, changes often feel like jumping into deep water. But in my opinion, this is exactly where the opportunity lies: Anyone who breaks away from familiar patterns earlier as a competitor is ahead of the pack. Retailers are a good example, who switched to online sales and digital services at the start of the pandemic and were thus able to win new markets and customer groups.
However, innovation should be strategically prepared and systematically implemented. What could that look like? An inventory of your company first reveals hidden challenges and opportunities. Analyzing internal data usually shows what is going well and what can be optimized. It is also important to keep an eye on external factors, which can look very different from sector to sector.
In the next step, a sustainable future concept specifies the individual innovation goals of your company and defines implementation milestones. My experience: The more broadly defined goals are, the easier it is to maintain direction in the long term. It is also important to involve employees. Because managers who inspire their teams and mobilize the strengths and potential of their workforce often achieve more than those who only give instructions from above.
Unfortunately, it is often observed that even well-thought-out strategies are thrown overboard at the first sign of a crisis and that companies focus on sheer survival. It is therefore all the more important to prepare for possible crises and to establish comprehensive risk management. Why is that so important? Recent years in particular have shown how wide the range of possible crises is now. We are no longer just talking about economic downturns and recession, but also about technological change, supply chain disruptions, cyber attacks, regulatory changes and much more.
Why am I still promoting the departure into the future? Because it is actually possible to design a successful corporate strategy so flexibly that you can always react to unforeseen changes. It provides clear guidelines without losing the scope for adjustments.
We would be happy to discuss what a viable path could look like for you in our first introductory appointment. I'm looking forward to seeing you.
