As we move deeper into January of 2020, here is a continuation of the 21 Hexavian Laws of Business for 2020. This is the second of third part, and it explores law 8 to 14.
The law of creativity
Go across boundaries. When we all think alike, then no one is thinking – BE CREATIVELY DIFFERENT in 2020. Think out of the box, as a matter of fact; think like there’s no box. To become a person of great ideas, put your creative instincts to test more frequently. In the words of Maya Angelou “you can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have”.
Practical applications and tips: Find out the places and time of the day that stimulates your creative juices. Then stay there more. Leverage on the power of 4am. Have a jotter or a notepad app close by. Be open to everything and attached to nothing. Share ideas, after all, that’s what they are for. It’s in the nature of ideas for the best ones to not be fully formed at conception. So don’t be too passionate for you to not absorb change. Start and it may transit to something better. Ideas are by far the most common manifestation of the human spirit. It’s somewhat over rated as everyone has them. It’s the grit to follow through on them that makes all the difference.
The law of sacrifice
I’m afraid that in 2020, there’s only one-way to succeed, sacrifice! People who have an edge are those who have made sacrifices or have started making them. To go up, choose something hard to give up – you may need to DENY TODAY’S DESIRES, TO ACHIEVE TOMORROW’S DREAM.
Practical applications and tips: Take up more responsibilities!
The law of risks
Take out your fears and then take off to your dreams. Ships are safe at bay, but that’s not why they were made. Eagles learn to fly by jumping off the sky. In 2020, it is only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far it is possible to go. In the words of Mark Twain, “twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbour, and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, and discover”. Go on a voyage more frequently, bearing in mind that a distant traveller who does not return home with great wealth, must endeavour to bring knowledge and experience.
Practical applications and tips: Be open to everything and attached to nothing. Face your fears. In the words of Les Brown, “too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears”. Face your fears.
The law of innovation and technology
If what you’ve done in the last years still looks big to you, then you haven’t done much this year. If your process, lifestyle and pattern don’t make things better, safer, simpler, work faster and life easier, then it’s not it – REPLACE IT.
Practical applications and tips: hang around younger people more.
The practical tips for this will be to stay radically open-minded. This means to be assertive yet open-minded. At every interaction and experience, practice to feed forward and not just feedback. In other words, you reminisce on whom did you talk to, what did you learn, what are you going to do about it?
The law of process and continuous improvement
You are expected to grow daily, not in a day – KAIZEN. Always look for 3 things at every point in your life, what to START, and what to STOP and what to keep DOING.
It’s important to have personal rituals and routines. Define them, with predefined cycles. Do them consistently. Try not to break them. Also, never pass on a defect, irrespective of who initiated it or who is responsible for it.
The law of management
In whatever you do in 2020, be consistent. Follow through. Also, create a professionally structured mode of operation and control. – Have a functional structure for what you do.
Practical applications and tips: Read management books. Join an institute of your choice. Start an MBA or any higher degree. But more practically, volunteer or have an internship (even if you are not paid) with an industry or work of your interest. Try to be a consultant- managing a series of projects, end-to-end, back-to-back.
For management to work, consider the Fayol’s principles for management. It is stated as follows
Division of work – When employees are specialized, output can increase because they become increasingly skilled and efficient.
Authority – Managers must have the authority to give orders, but they must also keep in mind that with authority comes responsibility.
Discipline – Discipline must be upheld in organizations, but methods for doing so can vary.
Unity of command – Employees should have only one direct supervisor.
Unity of direction – Teams with the same objective should be working under the direction of one manager, using one plan. This will ensure that action is properly coordinated.
Subordination of individual interests to the general interest – The interests of one employee should not be allowed to become more important than those of the group. This includes managers.
Remuneration – Employee satisfaction depends on fair remuneration for everyone. This includes financial and non-financial compensation.
Centralisation – This principle refers to how close employees are to the decision-making process. It is important to aim for an appropriate balance.
Scalar Chain – Employees should be aware of where they stand in the organization’s hierarchy, or chain of command.
Order – The workplace facilities must be clean, tidy and safe for employees. Everything should have its place.
Equity – Managers should be fair to staff at all times, both maintaining discipline as necessary and acting with kindness where appropriate.
Stability of tenure of personnel – Managers should strive to minimize employee turnover. Personnel planning should be a priority.
Initiative – Employees should be given the necessary level of freedom to create and carry out plans.
Esprit de Corps – Organisations should strive to drive internal brand loyalty. They should promote buy-in to the vision, team spirit and unity.
I will see you at the concluding part of this series.
Have a great 2020.
This content is inspired by the book “Hexavian Laws of Business”
EIZU UWAOMA
