Peter is Co-Founder of Gloria Jean’s Coffees Int, author of ‘Win In Business’ and ‘Building your Business, your People, your Life’
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One of my favourite sayings is: “If the horse is dead, dismount”
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| Peter Irvine (Gloria Jeans Coffees Int - Co Founder) |
There are people in business, leadership and life everywhere who find it hard to recognise when the horse is dead!
The current economic market either stalls companies or forces them to make changes. This is a great time to market differently or stand out in a different way.I have experienced many difficult times but have seen the businesses that make changes - succeed. Then grow and accelerate in the good times that follow.
People have asked, "How do I know whether to persist or stop and change?"
1. Go back to the original vision and purpose
If your original vision is the right one, don’t throw it out - look at what you are actually doing to fulfil that vision. The purpose does not change, however the methods we use - does! In advertising when a retail promotion for McDonalds did not work we did not persevere, we made changes and moved on. The main characteristic of the McDonald’s family restaurants did not change, just the way it was promoted.
2. Change is inevitable - so GET USED TO IT!
As a leader, if you want to build anything to last - a business, a strong family, a department within the organisation or a powerful life-testimony – it will need room to grow, to change and evolve in the process.
If you don’t change your work practices as you grow –e.g. if you keep the same products and packaging, the same programs or services without variation or stifle people in their jobs by not allowing them to grow and develop, then things will either stagnate and die, you will lose customers, or you will lose your most promising staff to other businesses.
If you want a bigger business, you will need to look at constant ways to change and improve, nothing stays the same forever
3. See change as your friend
A sign I saw recently on a local church read, "You can’t control the wind but you have to adjust the sails”. Don’t be afraid to do things differently, change can be challenging at first but it’s also exciting, it brings freshness and life.
- Look positively at what is working in your business or career and what is not. Are the things you are currently doing fulfilling the vision and purpose originally set?
- Are they working but need some adjustments – could they be done - better?
- Are there things you are not currently doing that should be explored?
- What about your staff or team members – do they have insights and suggestions that need to be considered for implementation?
- Are there creative ‘One Off’ ideas - to try, and most likely, overtime, it might gain momentum and succeed?
4. Develop a culture of change
If the business has operated for some time without innovation and development it becomes difficult to introduce anything new or kill off anything that isn’t productive. People become very protective of their jobs.
How do you develop a culture of change – one where people are not threatened:
inspire the team - make sure your team are on board with the vision and purpose
- Keep them up-to-date with progress.
- Get them involved in working out better ways to do things.
- There are changes that just HAVE to be made where individual staff are creating morale issues
- Introduce changes needed over a period of time, and structure your business so that it can grow and change with minimal disruption.
- Get people used to the fact that there will be constant change in order to see the vision and purpose achieved.
- · Celebrate –enjoy the journey!
- There are times you will need to draw a line in the sand and start afresh. If you try to band-aid over or skirt the problems - they will get worse.
Whatever the innovations make sure they are moving you in the right direction for your life and business.
Peter Irvine (www.peterirvine.com)
Peter is Co-Founder of Gloria Jean’s Coffees, author of ‘Win In Business’ and ‘Building your Business, your People, your Life’ and an authority on Business success.
Notice Board: 'Take your Business to the Next Level' - Leadership Seminar - April 2013...
With Manoo Pillay (Institute Director - Master Speaking Institute, Australia) &
Peter Irvine (Co Founder – Gloria Jeans Coffees Int)
DATE TO BE CONFIRMED!
Peter Irvine (Co Founder – Gloria Jeans Coffees Int) DATE TO BE CONFIRMED!
t: 1300 50 18 50 - w: www.masterspeaking.com.au e: info@masterspeaking.com.au
