Rate of Change Balance
Moving forward for success
Todd Ordal
“If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.”
—Jack Welch
Although Welch’s statement is simply put, it’s a brilliant message that we too often ignore. There are many examples of this on the public stage.
If you’re an old fighter pilot like a buddy of mine, you appreciate that changes in propulsion and weapons systems (e.g., jet engines and missiles) routinely make old hardware obsolete. The P-51 Mustang was a great fighter, but not against a F-22 Raptor.
If you sell beer like a good friend of mine, you recognize that you need a good menu of craft beers to supplement the Budweiser or Coors.
If you sell books like a favorite client of mine, you may wonder and plan for how to sell your content in the new world order (if you haven’t already turned the corner).
You get the idea. Or do you?
It’s easy to see changes in others’ backyards. However, we get rooted in our current technology, customers, employees, pricing, delivery systems, etc. What made us successful in the past might prevent us from succeeding in the future.
I don’t believe that focusing your company strategy on the competition is good. At best case, you’re a “me too” player, and strategy is about being different. However, if you’re unaware of what’s going on in your environment (e.g., technology, customer wants, regulations, demographics, etc.), you’ll eventually find yourself surrounded by jet engines.
Awareness, of course, is only half the battle. Planning and doing are required as well!
Todd Ordal is President of Applied Strategy LLC. Todd helps CEOs achieve better financial results, become more effective leaders and sleep easier at night. He speaks, writes, consults and advises on issues of strategy and leadership. Todd is a former CEO and has led teams as large as 7,000. Follow Todd on Twitter here. You can also find Todd at http://www.appliedstrategy.info, 303-527-0417 or [email protected]
coaches CEOs to higher levels of success. He is a former CEO and has led teams as large as 7,000 people. Todd is the author of, Never Kick a Cow Chip On A Hot Day: Real Lessons for Real CEOs and Those Who Want To Be (Morgan James Publishing).
Connect with Todd on LinkedIn, Twitter, call 303-527-0417 or email [email protected].
