Looking ahead to a new year....

15th of January 2016 Article by Lynn Webster
Looking ahead to a new year....

As we start 2016, ECJ’s correspondent Lynn Webster encourages businesses to focus on growth and moving forward in the new year.

The start of a new year - a time for reflection. However the experience of many clients and colleagues is one of keen focus, moving forward and revitalising their businesses. The talk is of growth, rebranding and generating future success. Unfortunately for some less fortunate there is still the quest for survival.

The people and news columns in our industry press feature many stories of the recent promotions of their personnel as businesses expand, and the appointments of key individuals who will act to enhance and develop new business opportunities. The recruiters are busy finding that right fit for each client. Business development directors and managers are the featured roles with those with proven expertise able to secure excellent salaries and benefits packages. It is clear from these examples that companies are once again investing in their people.

Business consultants and facilitators are busy working with the senior management teams and board directors, challenging the norms of day-to-day business delivery. Naturally this involves revisiting the company’s mission statement, questioning ‘is the vision where you want to be?’ and do the objectives fit in the constantly developing market place. Furthermore are the goals that are being set realistic and are targets really achievable.

Essentially this belongs under the banner of strategic review. Valuable days in business are being set aside to consider the options; whether it be for the next 12 months trading or the five-year plan with exciting opportunities ahead when looking into the crystal ball of business change. In some cases the thoughts move to that of acquisitions, debated in the board room for fulfilling the gap in specific market sectors, for considering geographical expansion or generally encouraging further development in the current fields of expertise.

Thoughts on the company ‘away days’ provide structured time away from the everyday business activity for deciding on which road to take; making decisions at the crossroads for business. A current common theme is changing the mode of transport. With involvement and participation in a number of such events recently the talk and examples provided by facilitators are no longer of
the roads but of boats with a specific book quoted as a regular occurrence.

Whilst not wishing to openly promote such an individual’s work the references and something worthy of consideration are the very apt messages from Ben Hunt-Davis’s motivational and autobiographical book ‘Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?’

Hunt-Davis was a member of the men’s rowing eight that won an Olympic gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Along with executive coach Harriet Beveridge his book provides insight into the strategies and techniques used to improve the team’s game and of course make the boat go faster! And a helpful process in achieving corporate success. So whatever your challenges, whatever your goals, the focus may not only be on going faster but on keeping your boat afloat, and survival in what are sometimes still turbulent waters ahead.

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