PROCESS AND PRODUCT TECHNOLOGIES ARE FOREVEREVER CHANGING IN COMPETITIVE MARKETS. THE AVAILABILITIES OF RESOURCES ARE CHANGING. THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CUSTOMERS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES CHANGE. THE AMOUNT OF COMPETITIVE SUPPLIES ARE EVER INCREASING AND DECREASING.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PRESSURES BEING EXPERIENCED BY COMPANIES AND MANAGERS TODAY ARE FOR CHANGE AS THEY ADOPT TO SURVIVE PERSONALLY AND CORPORATELY. EVENTUALLY THE ABILITY TO CHANGE IN ORDER TO MEET THE CHANGING REQUIREMENTS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL WILL CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS. WE ARE ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF SOME PAINFUL EXAMPLES IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, COMPUTER, AND OTHER COMPANIES IN AMERICA AS THEY HAVE SUFFERED AND IN SOME CASES SEEMINGLY BLUNDERED THROUGH THE YEARS OF CHANGING REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAST FIFTEEN OR SO YEARS.
THE AMOUNT OF PAIN INVOLVED IN THE REBIRTH OF THE SURVIVING COMPANIES HAS DEPENDED ON THE ABILITIES AND PROPENSITIES OF THEIR MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE.
RESISTANCE TO CHANGE IS THE MOST DETRIMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC A MANAGER OR COMPANY CAN POSSESS. OVERCOMING RESISTANCE TO CHANGE IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL BEHAVIORAL SKILLS TO ACQUIRE. SINCE A COMPANY'S PERSONALITY WILL REFLECT IT'S MANAGERS, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO GIVE ATTENTION TO THE ESSENTIAL TRAINING AND FACILITATION FOR BEHAVIORAL CHANGE AND ORGANIZE OR REORGANIZE TO THE STRENGTHS OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL STIFLE THE ABILITIES OF THE COMPANIES OR PLANTS TO CREATIVELY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF IT'S CUSTOMERS AND COMPETE EFFECTIVELY.
TODAY, WHILE FLYING FROM STUTTGART TO LONDON, I WAS READING AN ARTICLE FROM BRITISH AIRWAYS "BUSINESS LIFE MAGAZINE". THE ARTICLE IS TITLED "TEN WAYS TOWARDS POSITIVE EMPLOYABILITY". THE TEN WAYS ARE POSITIVITY, QUALITY, TENACITY, ENERGY, PERSONALITY, INDIVIDUALITY ,CREATIVITY, HONESTY, LUCKY AND BELIEF. ALTHOUGH THE ARTICLE DEALS WITH EMPLOYABILITY, I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS HAVE APPLICATION TO INDIVIDUAL MANAGEMENT ABILITY, PLANT OR COMPANY ABILITY AND THE ABILITY OF AN ORGANIZATION TO BECOME AND REMAIN COMPETITIVE. AS I HAVE VISITED PLANTS AND COMPANIES THROUGHOUT MEXICO, CANADA, JAPAN, EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES I HAVE FOUND THAT THESE BEHAVIORS ARE CRITICAL FOR MANAGERS AND COMPANIES EQUALLY REGARDLESS OF LOCATIONS OR MARKETS.
1. BEING POSITIVE ABOUT YOUR ABILITIES IS CRUCIAL TO HAVING THE CONFIDENCE TO PUT FORTH THE EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ACHIEVE. BEING POSITIVE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE WILL ENHANCE YOUR ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE MISSION AND GOALS OF YOUR PLANT OR COMPANY. A MANAGER OR COMPANY WHO CAN PRESENT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO THE CUSTOMERS, COMPETITORS, EMPLOYEES AND TO ALL WHO GIVE ATTENTION WILL HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCES FOR SUCCESS.
2. QUALITY IS SOMETIMES DEFINED AS SATISFYING THE CUSTOMER. TODAY, IT IS NOT A STATIC DEFINITION. THE CUSTOMERS, IN THE FACE OF WORLD WIDE COMPETITION FOR ALL MARKETS, ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DEMANDING. THE QUALITY OUTPUT OF GOODS AND SERVICES FROM INDIVIDUALS, PLANTS OR COMPANIES MUST CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE. IF YOU AND YOUR COMPANY WILL SURVIVE, FOR THE LONG TERM, YOU MUST STRIVE TO IMPROVE EVERYTHING YOU DO EVERYDAY. YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSES MUST BE DRIVEN WITH A QUEST FOR EVER IMPROVING THE DETAILS OF EVERYTHING YOU DO.
3. TENACITY INCLUDES NEVER GIVING UP ON YOUR GOALS. SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS AND SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES ARE DETERMINE TO NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP. TENACITY BREEDS SUCCESS.
4. ENERGY MEANS BEING ORGANIZED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF EVERY MINUTE AND EVERY RESOURCE; TO BEING AS PRODUCTIVE AS PHYSICALLY AND TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE. WAITING FOR SOMETHING GOOD TO HAPPEN IS NOT COMMON TO SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE NOR SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES. GOING OUT TO MEET THE CHALLENGE TO STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME MUST BE EMBRACED AND REVERED.
5. PERSONALITY IS IMPORTANT IN THE SENSE THAT TRYING TO PRETEND TO BE WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE NOT IS A WASTE OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES. KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND BE YOURSELF.
6. INDIVIDUALITY IS A CHARACTERISTIC THAT HAS SOMETIMES BEEN VIEWED WITH DISDAIN, BUT, TODAY'S REQUIREMENTS WILL FREQUENTLY BE MET BY NOT FOLLOWING THE CROWD. LEADING IN NEW DIRECTIONS CAN BE CRUCIAL.
7. CREATIVITY IS CRITICAL TO KEEP THE IDEAS FLOWING. NEW PROBLEMS REQUIRE NEW SOLUTIONS. OLD PROBLEMS REQUIRE BETTER SOLUTIONS. INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES MUST GO PAST WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN TO GET WHERE THEY MUST GO TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.
8. HONESTY MUST BE FOUND IN ALL TRULY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE AND PROCESSES. THERE IS NO SHORT CUT TO PERSONAL INTEGRITY. THERE IS NO PERMANENT PERSONAL GRATIFICATION OR ORGANIZATION SUCCESS WITHOUT IT. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO TRUST YOUR SUBORDINATES, CUSTOMERS, PEERS AND LEADERS. THEY MUST, IN TURN BE ABLE TO FIND YOU TRUSTWORTHY. CHEATING TO WIN IS IN FACT LOSING.
9. "LUCKY" IS AN OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD TERM. THE HARDER YOU TRY THE LUCKIER YOU BECOME. IF THE LUCK YOU HAVE BEEN DEALT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK. IT IS SAID THAT LUCK IS WHERE PLANNING MEETS OPPORTUNITY.
10. BELIEF: IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, WHO ELSE WILL? DO THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF. SUCCESS RARELY COMES ACCIDENTALLY ACHIEVERS KNEW THEY COULD AND DID.
ENTREPRENEURS, COMPANIES, AND LEADERS WHO LOOK BACKWARDS TO LEAD INTO THE FUTURE WILL WALK INTO WALLS AND BANG THEIR HEADS UNTIL THEY FAIL. THOSE WHO FOLLOW THEM WILL FAIL WITH THEM. "GETTING BACK TO BASICS" IN BUSINESS IS THE PATH TO FAILURE. ALL OF THE CHARACTERISTICS ESSENTIAL FOR COMPETING INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A COMPANY INCLUDE VERSATILITY AND A PROPENSITY FOR CHANGE WHEREVER AND WHENEVER CHANGE IS REQUIRED. THEY INCLUDE LOOKING AHEAD AND PLANNING FOR CHANGE.
DAN ROBLING©