“Hope is not a strategy.” – Vince Lombardi
I was speaking with a company leader earlier this week about the scale of disruption she was seeing in the industry, and the significant impact it was having on her organization’s financials. She then stated, “I just hope we get back to normal soon.”
I took a deep breath and, as delicately as possible, shared my view that this was not going to happen.
Why? The dramatic shock we have experienced in the global economy is already causing widespread changes in almost all aspects of the business world, both on the buy-side and sell-side. For both B2C and B2B businesses across almost every industry.
Nobody is immune. And things are simply not going to revert back to where they were.
I then observed that hope is never an effective strategy for solving problems. In this unpredictable and chaotic new VUCA business environment, we need to think strategically and take decisive action to overcome the challenges we are facing.
We ended up having a great conversation about all the changes that will likely happen in the broader world of work, and a few in particular that are very likely to impact her industry and organization directly.
It is super interesting to note that several of the trends we discussed have already been creeping into her market over the last 12-18 months, but have not gained much traction yet. I suspect the post-pandemic business environment will accelerate these changes…it will be like pouring gasoline over a lit matchstick.
BOOM!
By the end of our conversation we had uncovered and brainstormed a few great ideas for new solutions that her company is both well positioned to offer, and highly capable to execute on.
The shift in energy was dramatic. In just a few minutes, the conversation had morphed from downtrodden “hope” about something that was, if we are being honest, completely out of her control to tangible excitement about actions she had her team could take, all within her control.
As it turns out, the new normal (whatever that turns out to be) actually brings with it many new opportunities if you are paying attention and start looking for them!
Bottom line: It is okay to be hopeful and optimistic about the future, but we must also act today.
Sitting and waiting, hoping we get back to normal, is not how you succeed. Hope does not make or produce anything. Believing in something, setting goals, creating flexible VUCA plans, and taking focused action, is the only proven path forward.
-Onward