We have spent eighteen months creating the Exigence brand. We had the help of many fantastic and experienced professionals in building something that I am incredibly proud of and that resonates with our team and customers. It wasn’t easy. The hardest part of the creative process for me, was the constant counsel I received to restrict my choices.
These limitations were initially very frustrating.
I had to learn the discipline that less is more: fewer products with fewer but important features; fewer ideas more clearly expressed and fewer industry sectors to serve. I want to help everyone, but in doing so, my more experienced advisors knew I was in danger of helping no-one.
Not just us
The costs of failing to stop or being too eager to start a project are legion. Confusion, burnout, inefficiencies, lack of direction, reputational risk, disengaging staff who suffer from change fatigue to name but a few (as if this were not sufficient!) If you are a leader of your business’ change efforts, I offer you one simple rule: create capacity for your next important transformation, by working as hard on deciding what you can stop or pause. Make following through on this decision a pre-requisite for starting the next project. Include it as a step in your project planning.
This isn’t just an autobiographical challenge however. We regularly see businesses who also struggle with remaining sufficiently focused and aligned. They also wrestle with what they should stop doing in order to create the space for the latest project or culture change effort. As Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter declared, “the essence of strategy is choosingwhat not to do.”
New transformation effort?
Great!
What are we going to stop doing in order to have the capacity for doing that brilliantly and ensuring it is change that gets embedded?
At Exigence we help organisations in their move through key moments of transition towards exceptional performance. If you would like to understand more about our products and approaches then please contact us here.