Business is all about change. Entrepreneurs know this is true because the desire for change is what drives the creation of new businesses, presenting new products and ideas that will make a difference. But somehow, lots of entrepreneurs don’t quite consider that change isn’t singular – change is happening all the time!
Business success is all about recognizing and responding to change as well as planning for the future. You need to be aware of what’s going on around you and be able to change direction accordingly. So, what should you be doing to plan for change?
Create Adaptive Processes
Being able to spin on a dime is an important part of business but how do you manage it without metaphorically falling over? The trick is to create adaptive processes so that you can change without completely overhauling everything you do. For example, let’s say your business becomes aware of a legal change that will affect you, having access to litigation solutions would be a real advantage.
Being able to see the change coming, seeking advice and then adapting your processes is one way of working. The other way is to create a responsive system. This works particularly well in marketing strategies as you can make small changes throughout your campaign. Split testing is a key part of adapting and is a great way to show you the best route to your goal. Adding flexibility to your strategy will give you more room to adapt over time.
Keep an Eye on the Competition
Watching what your competition is doing is the best way to see how your industry is changing. Even if you are at the forefront of your industry, keeping an eye on your competition is essential as you need to know if you could be overtaken. Moving ahead of the pack is difficult enough but moving blindly is almost impossible.
Looking at your competition might tell you about your industry, but you should also be looking at related industries and other businesses with similar goals. Seeing how these businesses develop could provide inspiration and give you new ways to develop your own business and take your industry in a new direction.
Find Inspiration Everywhere
Any artist will tell you that inspiration can be found anywhere. This is really important to understand because while you may be completely focused on what your business is doing, other things could be happening around you. Finding inspiration anywhere comes down to being open to new ideas and experiences.
Encouraging creativity and a broad spectrum of interests amongst your employees will also really help the team to mesh while bringing unique points of view to the table. The more creative your approach is and the more aware you are of the emerging ideas around you, the easier change will be.
When you are open to change and you actively seek out changes, you are much more likely to be able to ride the tide and find a better route to success. When you plan for change, you give yourself more opportunities so be brave and go for it!
