Wednesday, 23 November 2016
The power of people
Here's a famous quote attributed to Malcolm X (that has been used more recently in some banking advertising):
"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."
So, how do you prepare for a future that is uncertain?
There are any number of companies that have failed to prepare for the future. Or industries that have been disrupted through new business models, and new technology used in new ways.
I believe the best way to deal with this uncertainty, and be in a position to excel during times of change, is through people.
The teams we have put together to face the challenge of delivering more intuitive (and more functional) customer technology come from diverse backgrounds. In the past they would have been considered cross-functional, but this is a new world and concepts like that need not apply.
What is important now, and where these teams shine, is that they work in their sweet spot.
Each of us has one. The area of work where time disappears, that space where people notice how effective you are, and where people repeatedly say: "That thing you did there, that really was exceptional."
Our team as a collective, by working in their sweet spot, have become more than just the sum of their individual parts.
They are able to face uncertainty, cope with change, and challenge each other. We embrace the fact that they all think differently, and avoid a group-mentality at all costs!
And what they build as a result, is so much more than any one person could ever come up with on their own.
At the end of the day, business is simply people helping people get something done. It’s as simple as that. Technology and other enablers help, but they are still designed by people…for people.
If you want to be prepared for the future; if you want to equip your business with the tools needed to cope with uncertainty, and to build exceptional things - just start with the right people.
Build an amazing team, get them what they need, then just get out of their way. The results will be incredible.