The Engaging Brand

Has the world changed really?

People often talk about change and the speed of change. However, I am convinced that for "all that change, the world stays the same".

Why? Because the basic core values will stay the same....the needs of society stay the same...the needs of individuals stay the same. 

To make technology changes work for us, we need to understand that how people live and how people interact may change but the purpose and needs stay the same.

The trick is retaining the past....the values, and embracing the future....the change in technology.

Evolution only touches the how.....not the why.

Think about when humans learned to walk.....the how was new, the reason i.e survival is as relevant today as it was then.

The Art of Letting Go

Nana seems to be inspiring blog posts this week...maybe because as you sit here waiting for the inevitable, you think about life. Letting go is such a big part of life and yet we are not good at it....here are 10 random business thoughts we need to let go of

1. The idea that good is good enough
2. The idea that because it worked in the past, it will work in the future
3. The idea that because it didn't work in the past, it won't work in the future!
4. The idea that success in the past, guarantees success in the future
5. The idea that writing 'people are our greatest asset' fools anyone
6. The idea that large meetings will ever push the boundaries far enough
7. The idea that learning is only about books and exams
8. The idea that we are indispensable
9. The idea that doing the same thing in the same way will provide the breakthrough you seek
10. The idea that the words "Don't say anything" will ever work

Evolve ...Don't Wait to Change

Evolution is so much better I find than 'having to launch a change program'. Evolution is what we as human beings have been doing to survive for years, decades, centuries...evolution is the only long term solution to business survival too.

I always remember Dad saying to me that if leaders get to the point that they need to launch a change program (however they term it!) then it is the leaders that should be changed!

Evolution is so much better, because it is a constant improvement, constant reinvention, constant learning and growing mindset. Evolution as a mindset needs

• Passionate about listening
• Passionate about true openness
• Desire to improve
• Fear of apathy

Overall I believe in the ability to live in the future now - by that I mean seeing what the world could be like and living towards it, today

Sea of Change Management

I spent a lot of my time as a youngster at Whitby a seaside town in the UK. I remember standing on the cliff one day with Dad who said "What do you see?"

I answered "The sea.

He said "And to you what does it represent?"

"The sea!" I said puzzled. He looked at it and said "It is important when you are looking at things to see if from all perspectives. To you it is the sea and only the sea but to

• The captain of the ship it is a transport system
• To a seagull it is their pantry for food
• To a child it is their playground
• To an angler it is their relaxation

To be a better person don't just see your angle, see all angles and learn to respect the needs and desires of others"

I have always tried to remember that...too many meetings happen when people don't listen, don't want to see the other perspective.

Now I try and see the sea!

Unlearning is the New Learning

Sounds strange...as I was always taught that learning was wonderful and actually it is!

However, in a world that is changing so quickly I find that unlearning old habits is as important nowadays. The rise of technology means that someone as old as I am (!) has to adapt, has to evolve....you shouldn't forget your new experiences but at the same time you need to be open to new ways of working.

Being open means trying new things, it means accepting that the way you have always done things isn't necessarily the best way now of doing things.

If you listened to yesterdays podcast you will know that your brain enjoys variety, it enjoys challenge.....it enjoys unlearning :)

I used to have a boss who said "No we tried that years ago, it didn't work" He used to send me scatty as because something didn't work then doesn't mean it won't work now, especially as new tools are available to deliver the idea.

Modern business needs you to unlearn yet still use your experiences to learn a better way..

Complacency kills a Business

In normal times complacency is a killer to business, when you add the idea of a recession to normal business trading then the need to continuously improve becomes even more important.

I love this story about the importance of focusing on improvement as a manager/leader.

"A hunter said to his guide 'This seems to be a very dangerous cliff. It's a wonder they don't put up a warning sign.' The guide replied ' They had one up for 2 years but no one fell off so they took it down!"

See the danger here...And yet how many times do we do this at work?

For example, maybe the employee or customer surveys come in OK or initial research shows a product will do OK...so we feel confident and take our focus away from keeping them happy. Results over time need continuous focus, continuing dialogue....management succeeds just like money - the more you put in, the more you get out.

So ask yourself today, "What area have you lost focus, because you think it is OK?"

You Are in Control of Change

During my career like many people I have often felt that circumstances are outside of my control. I remember having a coffee with Dad who looked at me on one of these occasions and said

"Anna, you are always in control. You are in control of your reaction, you are in control of whether you want to change, you are in control of your own future. You need to decide if the change is in alignment with your own values - if it is, then decide to commit to the business, if it isn't then decide to change your job. You are in control, but only if you know what is important to you and willing to make the decision and commit 100% to whatever the outcome is..."

He was right. This world may be an evolving business environment, control may have passed from brands to consumers...however no one can take control from you and your own life. When you feel out of control, it is often when you don't like the consequences of the decision you really want to make......Dad finsihed by saying "Life is the ultimate game of consequences, choose wisely to live well"

Baby Boomer Retirement - Problem or Opportunity?

I read regularly about the impending crisis when the baby boomer's retire, but I wonder whether it is a negative crisis or a positive chance for real change?

We talk about developing talent, we talk about collaboration, we talk about the use of technology, we talk about the wisdom of crowds....often though within many corporations this stops at just 'saying that words'. In many ways, people see it as turkey's voting for Christmas(UK!).

Well when change is slow, often it needs a crisis to make that change stick.

With the baby boomers due to retire, business leaders are faced with such a situation. The drain of experience, of talent will mean that both work and work practices will have to change. There will be no choice. When you can see that happening I would much rather design the future than wait to see what happens....

Businesses that change before the crisis will get an early lead in the search for talent. The great news for companies is that many social media tools exist to help this transition - wiki's as a way of holding on to knowledge and for collaboration.....podcasts as a modern communication and development  medium...blogging as a way of communication without the layers.

Change now...it is not turkeys voting for Christmas, it is the sign of a turkey as a manager if you don't!

7 Deadly Sins of Change Management

Last week I wrote about the 7 Deadly Sins of Marketing, today I thought I would touch on change management.

1. Change management is not about projects its about people. People will make the change happen not documents
2. Change is frightening to anyone. As a leader you need to help people face the fear, by explaining what the change will mean for them and how they will benefit.
3. Don't announce the change...only the need for change because of (4)
4. Change needs engagement, engagement needs understanding, understanding needs many conversations.
5. Don't think as a leader you have to have all the answers...the leaders need to concentrate on having the right questions.
6. Change cannot be shoe horned into a time period, it evolves over time.
7. Talk about what success will feel like, what success will look like to each person. Focus on the difference, focus on the benefits...rather than the budgets, the constraints, the action lists, the past, the timelines. They are all important in their own way, but again....

their success will be delivered by people who have emotional needs....focus on the emotional to deliver the financials.

Business Change means Social Change

Businesses are constantly looking for new ideas, new markets, bigger profits, improved efficiency in all these cases you are looking for change. However,  business change cannot be  delinked from social change. Social change is the catalyst for the improvements. To enable the social change you need to

• Create the reason for change at the business level.
• Create the reason for change at the individual level.
• Work with people to enable the change - listening and speaking with people is critical to success.
• Provide benefits both financially and emotionally for each person when they create that change.
• Track and celebrate progress.
• Deal quickly with people who do not want to be part of the future - not people fearful of change that is normal, I mean the people whose values do not match the values that the business stands for.

Choose leaders that have strong communication skills and emotional intelligence. This is about people and you need leaders that can connect with people, communicate with people and believe in people.