Elevate Your Business with a Forward-Thinking Attitude

Hello Business Leaders.

In the conversation today I’m drawing on several conversations around the topics of what the future holds and how some business owners wish their teams were more proactive. I find that the narrative weaves between these topics effortlessly and so I’ve attempted to bring my thoughts together.

I hope it makes as much sense to you as it does for me.

What’s in the article:

1.?????? The Mindset, Skillset and Activity for a Forward-Thinking Attitude

2.?????? Upcoming events

3.?????? Accelerator Board

4. Helpful links

Let’s get into it with this quote:

“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi

It makes me wonder, what would happen if you were bold enough to welcome the future, today?

Do you feel like things are changing fast? Like lane-swapping-taxi on the motorway fast?

Unless you’re living in a cave somewhere near the Drakensberg, you’ll need to think and see further ahead to successfully navigate the rate of change we’re experiencing today.

I feel that having a Forward-Thinking Mindset as a Business Owner requires 3 ingredients – a desire to challenge the Status Quo, getting Proactive, and being Innovative.

Take AI as an example.

ChatGPT launched in 2022 and had a million users within a week and is set to contribute Trillions to the global economy.

It isn’t just a sci-fi thing anymore – it’s here, and it’s changing the game for everyone. But oddly enough, a lot of small and medium business owners are still sitting on the sidelines, pretending it is just a passing fad instead of thinking of it as a tool that can automate tasks or analyze data making you more effective and efficient.

So why are so many businesses not using it?

Well, it’s not just about fear of robots.

Sometimes it’s more about a deeper resistance to doing things differently.

And that, could be a recipe for stagnation.

The ‘great lockdown’ forced us to adapt to remote work (but that is probably the issue. We were forced into it, rather than choosing it voluntarily). It’s funny to me how so many businesses are trying to steer back into the lane of managing desk jockeys in a physical office.

When we’re forced to make a change, we’ll resist longer, change will happen slower and we’ll often try go back to ‘normal’.

Choosing change is always better.

Choice is the kick starter to sustainable change. You must choose to be nimble, creative, and have a forward-thinking mindset to navigate the ever-changing business landscape. The Choice we must make, is to challenge the Status Quo.

Challenge the Status Quo

Change can be scary.

It can be difficult because there is friction.

And the end result may be unknown.

Doing what you’ve always done, sticking to the same routine, is comforting. You know what is NOT comfortable – watching everyone else moving forward. If you’re not comfortable with that idea carry on reading.

Become uncomfortable, unhappy and dissatisfied with the Status Quo.

Ask yourself what would make you happier?

Don’t confuse this idea of being “unhappy with the way things are” with complaining about the past or the present. Because complaining trips you back in reactive mode. You need to flip the switch in your head that says, “I’m curious, I wonder what becomes possible if …”

Challenging the status quo happens when we encourage a culture of continuous improvement. Get your team to think differently. Let them find solutions to everyday problems.

And when they come up with solutions, let them work to integrate them.

Integrating Proactive Strategies

We must integrate some behaviours into being proactive.

Daydreaming about the status quo won’t move you forward.

The power of a proactive mind is fueled by a burning desire to know and be prepared for – “what’s next”. You know that person in the office who gets the most work done? They are always asking “Ok what’s next?” and “What else?”

Make the time for it intentionally and learn how to become more organized. Manage your time to make space for dreaming, research, risk assessment, testing, prioritizing, planning ahead and setting goals.

We can also learn and apply some frameworks.

Agile, Design Thinking, Futurism and Kaizen (see links below) are all great frameworks for helping us think through problems, solutions, opportunities and ideas.

At the very least ask questions. When you do it enough this thinking becomes part of your business culture.

1.?????? What problem are we trying to solve, and who needs it fixed?

2.?????? What small changes can we make right now to get better?

3.?????? How can we test our ideas quickly to see what works?

4.?????? Where are we wasting time or materials, and how can we stop that?

5.?????? How can we work together to keep improving and stay flexible?

Being proactive is primarily considered a mindset or behavior, which can be shaped by character traits but is also a skill that can be developed and improved with practice.

Orchestrating Success with Innovation

A proactive mindset prioritizes getting better at the way we work.

Consider for example, how you integrate flexible working schedules and remote work or how you think of investing in continuous learning for your team...

Now ask questions that will prompt you and your team to seek new ways of working. We can learn from other business owners (Like we do in a TAB Peer Board), and we can invest time and research into new technologies.

You will multiply your Innovation when it’s not just you that’s doing the thinking but your whole team is as well. So, give your team autonomy to think outside the box. Allow them to be curious and experiment and, yes, allow them to make mistakes.

This autonomy in turn, fertilizes the Proactive mindset of your teams.

But it starts with you, being willing to probe the boundaries of comfort.

Being an innovative business isn’t about adopting all the shiny new gadgets. We become innovative when we live in a framework of asking ‘what’s possible and what’s next?’

When you integrate this thinking with current processes, you’re not just improving processes – you’re creating a workplace where collaboration is king and productivity thrives. And most importantly, you’re leading your team into a future they can get excited about.

After all, who wouldn’t want to work in a business that’s always thinking ahead?

Key Take Aways:

Forward thinking is the magic ingredient that keeps your business fresh and competitive. Finding smarter ways to run your operation means embracing a mindset of “how can we do this better?”

AI for example is showing us that anyone with a forward-thinking mindset can break through barriers and achieve things they never imagined. And if you’re willing to embrace the future – with all its uncertainties and opportunities – you’ll leave your competitors behind, stuck in their outdated ways.

The truth is, real success comes from a mindset that’s hungry for growth, change, and constant improvement.

A Forward-Thinking Attitude

1. Become dissatisfied with the Status Quo.

2. Sharpen your skills to become more Proactive.

3. Innovation happens when we seek new possibilities.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

Now get proactive. Get off your butt. Stop scrolling on the phone. ?Cast aside the excuse of the day and seek out new opportunities, new tools, different perspectives and new ideas.

If you liked this newsletter, please like, share, and comment.

If you want to learn more about hosting a workshop on this topic or simply have a conversation over coffee about it, feel free to send me a message.

You can send me Colin Carmody a DM, contact me via [email protected] or call +27 78-804-2347

Coach Colin at the Alternative Board

Coach. Facilitator. Change Agent.

Live Better. Lead Better. Achieve more.

PS

I’m hosting another Café Conversation in October. It has been a while since the last one and I’m keen to try out The Taste Room’s new Venue. If you’d like to grab a seat please let me know. I’m toying with two topics:

• Partnerships beyond the piece of paper – a discussion on the pros and cons and requirements that are not legislated
• Forward Thinking Mindset – do you consider yourself forward thinking?

Which would you like to talk about?

Psssssst!

If you’re a start up business, under 5 years in operation, making ± R5m and employ 5 people or fewer (maybe just you?), we are hosting a monthly Accelerator Board online that you might be interested in.

Our Accelerator Board includes Knowledge Sessions, Coaching and access to our proprietary Business Planning and Strategy Software, all with a money back guarantee.

If you’re interested, lets a have a virtual coffee.

Bottom of the Page stuff

For a credible and comprehensive introduction to Design Thinking, Futurism, Agile Methodologies and Kaizen you can explore the following sources:

• Kaizen Institute's official page https://www.kaizen.com/about-us/what-is-kaizen.html
• McKinsey https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/what-is-agile-methodology
• Design Thinking https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/design-thinking
• Futurism https://www.iftf.org/

Cheers

~Coach