It is no news that the world is facing unprecedented times in our generation. There is no country, no industry, dare I say, no business that is not affected in one way or another by the recent maelstrom. This sudden uptick turbulence has a lot of people asking “How do I navigate my business through these times?”
ARE YOU REALLY THINKING? In situations like this many people want a laundry list of specific actions to take, almost like “just tell me what to do to get through this”. While this may seem comforting in the short term, it is not the best approach. What is more effective would be to guide you through this in a way that will enable you organically generate solutions that have the potential to produce exponential results for you and turbocharge your business. How? You might ask. The short answer is by addressing the most important success factor for this type of situation: your mind.
The main difference between those who come out on top and those who don’t, between the winners and the losers in this crisis will be driven by how they think. The way we think is at the root of all human endeavor, literally. Your life cannot sustainably move faster than your mind; neither can your organization outgrow the borders of your mental landscape. Your mind is the engine room for leadership, creativity, problem solving and growth – this applies as much in the corporate world as in government and in not-for-profit. So, your mind is the engine to turbocharge your business through these unprecedented times. More obvious external factors – financial capital, human resources etc. are only secondary levers.
Your response in this season will not be driven primarily from the boardroom or by management meetings (both of those have boundaries set by your mind) so before rushing off organizing and attending meeting after meeting as we are wont to do, stop and take time to rethink.
What you need to do
Over the coming weeks, I will be taking you on a journey of discovery that has the potential to be transformational for you and your organization. It is a journey that will require you to change your mind – the way you think about and approach your business. It is not for everybody. If you think business as usual will do even after all you see around you, then this is not for you. If you want more and are open to what it takes, then welcome onboard.
To make the best of this and to ensure the brightest outcome, you have to truly listen. That will mean putting aside your ego – whether that is driven by your expertise or your assets – and relearning what you thought you already knew. Oftentimes, the biggest obstacle to a new level of performance is not what you don’t know but what you think you know. Listen with your whole mind.
Secondly, put what you learn into practice. Take a notepad and a pen or pencil to make notes and write down how each lesson applies to you, how you might think differently because of what you are learning and how that might apply to your situation or your business.
Thirdly, ask questions. Questions are a sign of mental engagement and growing understanding. Do not let your questions slip. Write them down and send them in to us. The more you ask, the more you get.
LESSON 1: LEARN TO REDEFINE YOUR BUSINESS
One of the fundamental mistakes business leaders make is in conceptualizing what their business is. Traditional business thinking makes you consider what goods or services your business is providing (product) and to whom these are being provided (customer). This seems straightforward enough, unfortunately this way of thinking is where the problem often begins. Yes, in all likelihood you have a product of some sort to provide in the marketplace but that is not your business. Conceptualizing your business this way already limits the possibilities available to your mind. It is a straight-jacket for your perception and in the highest sense it is simply not true.
How then do I think about my business? Join me next week to find out more.
Dr. Toluwanimi Osinowo
Dr. Toluwanimi Osinowo is a thinker and teacher: coaching high-potential leaders, advising organizations and originating breakthrough ideas.
He is the founder of CANTAB Associates, and the pioneer of SAPIENCE which is both a philosophy and methodology of thinking. He previously worked in the London office of the leading global strategy consulting firm Bain & Company. He studied Medicine from the University of Cambridge where he was a Cambridge Commonwealth Scholar.
He can be reached on for your questions and comments.
e-mail: [email protected]
