Adapt or Die

The question that we all need toask is how does your product,

business or idea providecompetitive advantage? It is no

small question and the answer isnot a one fits all or one that once

answered you can tick the box andput it away. You have to

continuously tinker and change tomaintain your competitive

advantage.

How many times have we seena corporation at the peak of

its powers suddenly andinexplicably implode? Whatwas the driving force behind

this; poor managementdecisions, an unhealthy dose

of complacency or the marketshifted and the company was

unable to navigate theuncertain waters?

From my own experience, I would say that themost important element that was missing was

that the company, and its leadership, lack what Ithink is one of the most important skill set;

adaptability.

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Adaptability is what will fuel an enterpriseand provide it with real and sustainablecompetitive advantage. The fastest to

recognize and react thoughtfully will winand big.

What most leaders do not realize is when thebusiness is actually at its apex, it is in its the

most vulnerable state. That is when you muststretch the organization and seek out newopportunities to grow or do business. Your

business model should be more fluid than ever butthis is the time when most leaders take their foot

of the pedal and coast. Decisions that would bemade to catch up to a competitor or scrap out

growth or delayed due to an almost unreal senseof invincibility. It becomes hard for leaders to see

a different way of doing things and creatingvalue. Just take a moment and think about the

emerging businesses and where they came from.Blockbuster had the market for a long period oftime but was unable to adapt it's model to the

changing environment , and the upstart NetFlixcame in and disrupted the market.

I propose that leaders work on ways toenhance their adaptability. The challengefor every business is to find ways to evolvetheir brand and leaders and do it in such a

way as to evolve and expand theirrelevance.

On a personal level, leaders also need to adapt how they tackleproblems, develop people, motivate teams and drive intrinsic value

for all. It is important to acknowledge that we also must beadaptable in our own thought process. What worked for you last year

or last decade is not necessarily going to be the best approach now.We have all seen a manager who as worked for thirty years but truly

done one year of learning and repeated the process thirty times.

So, if adaptability is an essentialingredient to success how do we

develop on a personal level? Leadersneed to adapt to solve old problems

with new thinking and newerproblems with even more adaptivethinking. Change your perspectiveand you become open minded and

flexible to the possibilities. This helpsyou develop people, motivate teams

to do the impossible and driveintrinsic value for all. Below are 5Adapt or Die must do's for you to

maximize your potential:

1- Become agreat listener-become a realstudent againand have an

insatiable thirstfor learning.

2- You have to check your ego andallow all to have a voice - just becauseyou are the leader does not mean youhave all the solutions. Empower your

team to help create the future.

3- You have to be a keenstudent of the market andthe emerging channels in

other industries that couldaffect you. This leads to

innovation and creativity.You not only harmonize the

enterprise, you also getthings done eliminating

gridlock.

4- You have to take off the rosepetal glasses and see things for

how they are and not how you wantthem to be - be a realist and holdourself in check and never be indenial about the current state ofthe business. It forces you to see

and react to the bigger picture andto keep things in to perspective.

5- You have to have the courage tochange even when you are on the top of

your game. You must seek outcontinuous growth opportunities for

both you and your company.

As always, thanks for"listening" and feel free toreach out to me directly at

deshague.com