Change – there are only 3 great choices.
27 December 2024
1/52 Revolutionise Business Brand Identity for Growth in 2025
9 January 2025Key concept: There are only three responses we can take to change – adopt it, acknowledge it or adjourn from it. What will you choose in 2025?
“The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.” Charles Kettering
If we don’t get with change, it will overtake us and leave us behind.
“The rate of change is not going to slow down anytime soon. If anything, competition in most industries will probably speed up even more in the next few decades.” John P. Kotter
Business and life were full on in 2024. Post COVID-19 businesses were getting on with their new normal. Working on recovery and restructuring in a bid to return to pre-COVID-19 results. As we move into 2025, change is something that we cannot avoid. That doesn’t mean we need to accept ALL change, but we do need to embrace what is happening around us and use the best bits to enhance our business and personal lives. This applies to technology, processes, strategies or tools. One of the challenges facing us in 2025 is deciding what to adopt, what to acknowledge and what to adjourn (put on the shelf).
ADOPT CHANGE
When considering adopting a technology, process, strategy or tool, you need to evaluate it carefully:
- Does it align with my personal and/or business goals and needs? Is it relevant? Does it fit? Could it be scaled up as my business grows?
- What is the ROI (return on investment)? Consider both the initial and ongoing costs, the payback period and tangible (or intangible) benefits such as work speed, efficiency, and impact on costs (increase or decrease?).
- How easy is it to use and implement? Can I easily integrate it into current work practice? Is it user-friendly, and do I have the support and easily accessible resources to carry it out?
- Finally, consider the risks to your business of adopting that change – review regulatory compliance, vendor reliability, and data security.
If the change you are considering ticks the boxes (or ticks enough boxes), then it is worth adopting. If not, there are two other possibilities.
ACKNOWLEDGE CHANGE
We may need to know about some technology, process, strategy, or tool but not adopt yet. We benefit by knowing of its existence and potential impact but accept that it is not for us at present:
- What is its relevance to us and its potential impact on us? Is it an industry trend we need to be informed about? Are competitors using it to their advantage? Will it become widely used soon?
- Will we be ready to adopt in the future because we lack sufficient resources, infrastructure or expertise at present? Do we need to wait until a later edition/improvement has been made and not be an early adopter? Will it better meet our needs in time, just not now? Are there barriers to adoption, such as cost, culture or practicalities, that we need to address first?
- What can we learn from considering the technology, process, strategy, or tool? Does it help us stay informed and benefit decision-making? Is there potential for partnerships and collaboration with others who are considering or already using it? Can we benefit from the learning of others/the early adopters?
“Change has a bad reputation in our society. But it isn’t all bad—not by any means. In fact, change is necessary in life—to keep us moving, to keep us growing, to keep us interested. Imagine life without change. It would be static, boring, dull.” Dr. Dennis O’Grady
ADJOURN FROM CHANGE
If a technology, process, strategy, or tool is not for us, we need to be bold enough to know why it is so and brave enough to say so. That doesn’t mean we will always maintain that stance in future planning. Saying no, not for now or not at present, not yet, does not necessarily imply au revoir (goodbye); it may mean a bientot (till soon, some point in the future).
“Sometimes, good things fall apart so better things could fall together.” Marilyn Monroe
The challenge before us in 2025 is whether we adopt, acknowledge or adjourn changes in technology, processes, strategies or tools in our business for the right reason. Remember, there is wisdom in seeking and asking for help.
Once a decision is made, the reasons behind it may change, and we may need to change that decision, and that is okay, too. But changing a decision is better than not making a decision and allowing time and circumstance to overtake us.
“You can’t change the world alone. You will need some help. And to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the goodwill of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.” William H. McRaven
Happy New Year, everyone, and here is to #BuildingBetterBusiness in 2025.
If you need help making change or deciding if change is needed contact me here.
