2017 is slowly coming to an end. The year of the sun. A year full of changes: The Euler company provided an economic horoscope for this year in December 2016: Eight trends were described in it: weak global trade, China crisis, insolvency trend reversal, geopolitical tensions, Brexit, new elections, monetary policy and protectionism.
When rereading this blog, it is amazing how true the forecasts are. However, much was already visible last December. The question is: Why do predictable events surprise us when they actually occur? I am not referring to the astonishment that Brexit is actually happening. I mean the changes that companies might plan and begin to implement, and which they are then not prepared for when they happen.
A good example is digitalization, which is currently a real buzzword. What does more digitalization actually mean in detail? If everything is connected more and more, the exchange of data increases. Perhaps it is therefore advisable to get the work council on board at an early stage. Or if you rely on new technology, you should already consider possible further developments. Otherwise it might already be outdated tomorrow.
Creating the right conditions – for new staff too
Also, the corresponding internal rules must be scrutinized, for example when it comes to the creation of new positions. I know a competent lady, who was employed by a company as digital marketing manager. On her first day of work, she came to the office, turned her laptop on and tried to surf. Her attempt to reach YouTube and Facebook failed. When she asked someone, she was informed that these pages were blocked for staff. Within one day, she had then personally spoken with all those responsible. It was then concluded that the effort required to invalidate these rules for her was so vast that the company could not see a way of doing so. So, the new manager quit her job. And the company? It took a year to put together the right infrastructure for such a position.
Is this case an exception? Unfortunately not. If we manage to grasp and discover the skills we need for new strategies, we often fail when it comes to the structures and processes. These have to be broken down in time, and should be designed in such a way that they remain flexible. If you need support in doing so: Count me in! So we achieve: a win-win situation!
Leave a Reply