The last few years have been tough for most organisations, public and private sector alike.
Our world has become very different to what it was just five years ago. COVID was a catalyst for significant change, in particular, accelerating flexible work practices and putting a greater spotlight on the need to be kinder to ourselves and each other. But COVID wasn’t the only driver of change with the rapid rise of technology like AI, changing consumer demands, growing climate impact awareness, war, and political and social unrest also driving new expectations and norms. And of course, the tough economic conditions have required consumers and businesses to adapt to the conditions. All these factors have resulted in a new set of behaviours, many of which are here for good.
As the end of 2024 approaches, there are a number of signs of an improved operating environment in 2025, meaning further – and hopefully positive – changes to our working world.
Through all this change, one thing has remained constant for us: we only succeed when our clients succeed. Over the next three weeks, we’ll share some of our thinking around three key areas on the path to success. By providing strategic creative insights, ideas and examples we hope to help you get ready to succeed in 2025 and beyond.
We start by looking back and taking stock of what has changed. First reflect on yourself and how your perspective, priorities and behaviours have changed. Then consider your organisation and the way it does things? How is your customer and product mix different? What about your supply chain, production processes and operating relationships? Technology? Culture and workplace practices? What else has changed forever?
Consider which strategies worked in recent years and which ones didn’t, and why. In hindsight, what could you have done differently and what things would have made a big difference. Lessons learnt here will create a more resilient and adaptable organisation going forward.
Apply this same thinking to your customers. How have their needs, expectations and buying behaviours changed? What are their new priorities? And what are their expectations of you going forward? Ask them.
We’ll explore insights, ideas and techniques to help you reflect and learn in our first blog: Learn.
Next we consider who you’ve become today. Given a period of constant change, what do you stand for now?
Go back to the fundamentals and rethink and redefine them where needed. Have your vision and purpose changed? Are your values still the same? What about your competitive positioning and unique brand proposition? Why should customers choose you over the other options available to them?
Going back to your core strengths, capabilities, skills and assets, are they still your competitive advantage? Which new ones do you need to rebuild or enhance, and what new ones do you need to establish? What about weaknesses – which one will now hold you back?
While you’ve been focusing on managing change and survival, which of your critical external connections have become weaker or lost? Do you need to reconnect with existing customers, communities and other stakeholders? And what new connections are needed?
We’ll discuss these and more ways to consider where you’ve evolved to, in our second blog: Evolve
And finally we look forward, and beyond, at what’s needed to grow in both the short and longer term.
One of the dynamic outcomes of changes has been that the world has got even more connected. This reveals opportunities for new offers, new customers and exciting new territories. What will it take to uncover and capitalise on these?
Tapping into new opportunities also means telling your story in new ways, aligned with the new ways your target customers consume information and make purchase decisions. What are the new mediums and channels you’ll use to get your story out there?
And looking beyond success in 2025, what actions should you take today to build a more resilient organisation that still succeeds when the next economic, political, social, or technological challenge comes along?
We’ll explore the path to success in our third blog: Grow.
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We look forward to sharing our thoughts on learning, evolving, and growing over the next three weeks. We hope they are a useful resource as you plan for success in 2025 and beyond.
