Download - Adapt or Die
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