'BREATHE' to transform Organizations during uncertainty

Every crisis is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to catapult to the next frontier of growth. It’s utmost important for Organizations to “BREATHE” during uncertainty / crisis.

?B: BELIEFS - Bust the limiting beliefs

R: REAL TIME DATA

E: Eliminate processes?

A: Accept the new normal and set strong context

T:?Teams – Cross Functional Teams

H: Home of scenarios?

E: Empower each individual and Cross Functional Teams

B: BELIEFS – BUST THE LIMITING BELIEFS

Individuals have been conditioned from their past environment with various limiting beliefs e.g. I don’t have time, sales deals cannot be closed virtually, meetings are effective only if they are face to face, face to face meetings are absolutely must for negotiations, talented people don’t love money etc. Similarly, the culture of organizations also has various beliefs that may become limiting with changing times. Hence to begin the transformation, it’s important that atleast 1% of the organization associates (leaders – irrespective of hierarchy / position) are identified and their limiting beliefs be busted with empowering beliefs.

?Example: Sales deals can be closed virtually, we have time for everything that matters, talented people and money are not interlinked hence talented people loving or not loving money doesn’t come into the picture etc. Feed forwards and specific training interventions plays critical role in busting the beliefs.

?R: REAL TIME DATA

During uncertainty, customers seek transparency and visibility. While this is important, most of the Sales associates, supply chain associates, leaders across the organization all are busy attempting to get clarity leading to lot of redundant work and productivity loss. Hence it becomes super critical to have access to cock pit of real time data so that people don’t lose previous time and focus on more productive activities.

It would also be helpful to have digital towers, standard formats, at least once a week meeting of all stakeholders esp. customer facing teams where info is dissipated, clarifications provided to pressing customer queries etc.

E: ELIMINATE PROCESSES?

Eliminating processes helps become more agile and enhances decision making. Processes were created to cater to 80% of the business requirement. Once there is high talent density with access to real time data, strong context, processes can be eliminated. Start with symbolic elimination of processes e.g., no holiday quota (take as many leaves as one needs), no travel guideline.

In traditional context, such symbolic elimination would look ridiculous and even increase expenditure of the company. However, there are benchmark companies that have already implemented these and the pros (ownership, responsibility, freedom etc.) far out weight the additional cost which supports innovation and improves financial results.

A: ACCEPT THE NEW NORMAL AND SET STRONG CONTEXT

Organization context in 2022 will not be the same as BC (before Covid). Hence let’s accept the new normal and set strong context for individuals / teams to enhance freedom and responsibility while also drastically improving decision making.

Strong context goes together with eliminating processes, else it will lead to chaos within the organization.

T: TEAMS – CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAMS

In times of uncertainty and in current era, it’s not about leading by position. It’s about leading by content and context. Hence, it’s important to create Cross Functional Teams (CFT) that includes Sales, Logistics, Manufacturing, Legal, Communications etc. All stakeholders together with scheduled meeting and clear context can guide the organization during ambiguity.

Also ensure there is some stakeholder which brings in undiluted ‘Voice of the Customer’ in the organization for reflection too.

H: HOME OF SCENARIOS

Welcome to crisis - it’s called crisis because I feel that there is no straight and one answer. Hence organizations need to create home of scenarios. Leaders at all levels need to be in love with creating and discussing scenarios with clear signpost.

Depending on which signpost keeps coming true, it’s easier for organization to adapt their strategies based on the scenarios.

E: EMPOWER EACH INDIVIDUAL AND CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAMS (CFT)

Last but not the least for organizations to BREATHE, it’s about empowering individuals and cross functional teams in letter and spirit.

Once organizations have empowered individuals and teams, combined with strong context, reduced processes, real time data and empowered beliefs, organizations are prepared to tackle uncertainty and crisis of 2022 and beyond.

It may happen that scenarios change, attrition of key individuals, new lockdowns / variants of Covid which impacts businesses unlike before etc. However, if individuals and organizations “BREATHE” and work with “karna hai to karna hai (try new approaches if something is not working, bring in positive emotions and never give up)” attitude, then individuals and organizations will find way.

BREATHE will also enable to retain top management and support to improve financial performance and customer centricity.

If any organization misses specific aspect of BREATHE, then there is high possibility of suffocation for associates / customers / suppliers leading to further chaos.

Choice is OURS, if we want our Organizations to BREATHE OR Suffocate!

Share your perspectives on how this model can be further strengthen across industries.?

Author (Girish Bhambhani)

P.S. ?Views expressed in this article are personal and not company views. Signing off with love & respect ??