Just recently I was with a senior team from a company that’s pushing hard to reach sales of $1 billion. It’s a company where, despite good past performance, it sees the future being radically changed by economic competition from Asia and demanding a fresh, creative response.
Management has been working really hard, to compete: driving high-value products into Europe and American plants, and the Asian assets to deliver commodity-priced products most customers are seeking.
The meeting that began as a session to freshen the marketing messages quickly shifted into a lively, nearly raucous roundtable on the future of the business.
“We need to change the business model!”
“We know that,” says the VP of global marketing and sales. “But we get tied to the day to day.”
“What you need is a session with some people from outside the organization. Bring them together with Chris [name changed]. He needs to get with other C-suite people. They could speak about handling change. He needs to get outside the paradigm!”
Talk moved quickly to dates, locations and to potential invitees. We’d need a senior person, someone with the personal authority to command attention, and keep the discussion focused on the issues instead of golf and football.
“We will need to find someone,” I said.
“Well, you’ll run it,” said the communications director.
BAAM! The “ah-ha” moment! Me?
Starting in the 1964 as a newspaper reporter, moving to project editor in think tanks, next to senior management in a global PR firm, then to small-business founder and team leader, I arrive at today, hearing “You do it!”
We’ll see as the program develops. But with that encouragement, with that acknowledgement of the “gray hairs” in this pre-boomer, I’ve decided to launch this blog.
Stay tuned. And please respond!
