Now is the time for leaders to move – with bold vision, aggressive plans, and inspired action – towards a successful, sustainable, and exciting future.
That’s what I think. How about you?
When the economy turned down in 2008 many leaders froze. Indeed, the magnitude and suddenness of the collapse was halting – and caught most of us by surprise. Stopping or slowing longer-term investments and initiatives made sense, was understandable and predictable, and was – for a time – even defensible. Staying afloat – to live and fight another day – became for many the modus operandi – and business strategy per se.
But today (three years out) this is no longer the case. It’s obvious that the old times – and the ‘prosperity as entitlement’ or ‘all firms will be winners’ thinking that characterized much of the last decade – is gone for good. That past is not coming back.
Instead, I see ahead a future of permanent uncertainty, constant volatility, and dizzying (and still accelerating) pace of change, mutation, and evolution – in our business, markets, and world. I’ve recently detailed my view of this future in a new presentation entitled:
“Fast Future – Fifteen Uber-Trends that Will Rock the World –
and What AEC Firms and their Leaders Must Do to Survive and Thrive on the Road Ahead.”
Each of my fifteen ‘uber- trends’ are global in scale, strategic in importance, and closely interconnected with one another. Briefly, the trends (arranged into three subgroups) are these:
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The Big Five
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The Business Five |
The Social Five |
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Explosion of Technology |
Increasing Consumer Power |
Magic of Diversity |
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Information as Currency |
Mutating Supply Chain |
Global Urbanization |
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Globalization of Everything |
Rise of the Small Firm |
Knowledge and Learning |
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Meritocracy and Democracy |
Centrality of Infrastructure |
Healthy and Longer Living |
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Constant Change and Volatility |
Energy and Environment |
New Communities and Connections |
Some of these trends are obvious, and some are less so – but I see danger with both. Most organizations are today ill-prepared to take full advantage of the change and development ahead – whether they know very little about a particular subject, or whether they know quite a lot a lot (but aren’t exactly sure how to react or what to do). That said, choosing to take little or no action – the “do nothing” or “freeze” strategy all too prevalent over the last couple of years -is I think a very risky strategy for the road ahead -and an increasingly competitive, cold, and unforgiving world.
So, what is the progressive and success-oriented leader to do?
I see the answer as clear: get focused, and be strategic. Decide and detail where you and the organization want to go, what you most want to achieve, and how and when you intend to get there. This of course involves strategic planning – but it’s more than that. Being strategic includes executing and doing – operating each day with (and on) purpose, with passionate intentionality, and with an unwavering focus on those things that matter most. It takes courage, but on the topsy-turvy, upside-down, and super-crazy road ahead this focus will be crucial. Many without it will be swept away.
We created J. Doehring & Co. specifically for this charge: to help professional services firms and their leaders to succeed in the challenging world ahead – and to achieve extraordinary outcomes in their businesses and lives. Designing, implementing, and executing enterprise business strategy is a core piece of our mission. Today our strategic planning process is itself more focused and strategic – and it’s faster, more efficient, and more robust – to handle the uncertainty and rapidly changing context of our business and world.
We’re living now in exponential times. AEC leaders face substantial challenge and risk ahead – along with extraordinary opportunity and potential. If your firm has achieved any measure of historical success, I’m sure that you desire greatly to sustain and build on that legacy.
If you’d like to discuss this further – the status of your organization’s current vision, strategic objectives, and action agenda; the extraordinary power of intentional thinking and doing through proactive strategic business planning; and how we might collaborate together to supercharge your firm’s future success – please give us a call today at 978-433-6848, or drop me a note at john@jdoehring.com.
That’s what I think. How about you?
John
Note: If you’re planning to attend this year’s ACEC Fall Conference in Las Vegas – look us up. I’ll be there, and presenting our new program
“Fast Future – Fifteen Uber-Trends that Will Rock the World –
and What AEC Firms and Their Leaders Must Do to Survive and Thrive on the Road Ahead.”
I’ll hope to see and connect with you there.
