When someone asks the question “how are things?”, the answer can often be: “Business is really tough and we’re just trying to keep our heads down and survive the year.”
While surviving is crucial, simply keeping your head down will not do it.
If nothing else, the last 12 months must have taught us all that the markets in which we operate have changed significantly and not just over the past year but for good.
This is now an ideal time to make those changes to your business that either you have known for a while you should do or haven’t considered because they are too painful.
I am fortunate that I get to see a lot of print and packaging companies and I am astonished at how often I hear them remark that while a certain strategy will benefit the business, their staff won’t embrace the change in direction. How defeatist and I simply do not believe it.
Change is always a difficult process to take people through but if you have a clear vision of what you are trying to achieve, and it’s for the right reason, it can be done.
As employers we should not have to accept poor performing employees. We wouldn’t do it with equipment so why with staff? If there are processes within the business that need to be changed, you coach those staff to accept and embrace that change.
If they are not prepared to do it then they no longer belong in that role and probably in your business. I know this is easier said than done but we are faced with a demanding market and now is the time to force change. Have those difficult conversations and do it now.
The alternative should be plain to everyone.
Paul Deane is managing director at MIS software developer Shuttleworth Business Systems
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