Aligning Business Strategy, Technology, And Employee Care Creates The Best Result
It's all about fluidity and unity. When coming up with a new game plan there are a few questions that need to be taken into consideration. How does this strategy align with your current technology? Will you have to adjust said tech in order to move forward to gain results? Does the new strategy take into consideration the effects it will play on your employees?
This is all basic business ideology but things do get lost in translation. For instance, a strategy that involves layoffs does not take into consideration the employee. Yes, sometimes there are situations that provide no other choice, but there are things you can do during this difficult time that still puts those people first. Giving financial assistance for a period of time or creating an employee job board that helps those who have been affected by layoffs find other positions with different companies. Simple genuine steps go along way when making difficult decisions.
Technology is today's biggest weapon in terms of creating fluidity in the workspace. If your business strategy hinders the use of your current technology you need to take steps before full implementation to address the issues. Meaning, get your team up to speed with the changes, get them trained on new equipment or programs, and have someone on site that can help with any inevitable challenges that arise. If your team can't use your tech fluidly, it's effects are felt throughout the entire business.
Creating a new business strategy is not done on a whim, it takes a concerted effort from all parties involved. The most important part of changing the game plan, communication. This is the most vital aspect of any business in general, but even more important when implementing change.
The uncertainty change causes employees is not something you want to play around with. Employees are the single most valuable piece of a business. They are the limbs of the body that make things happen. They are the ground crew that sets the expectation of your customers. When your team does not feel like they are important enough to receive the same information or are left out in the dark, things tend to get a little dicey. Attitudes shift, people start looking for different jobs, and the very real understanding of unimportance sets in. This has proven to be a costly mistake in business time and time again.
Shedding light on change is difficult, but it is necessary. The impacts of change need to be as transparent as possible at all levels. Communicating the right way so imagination doesn't take hold brings trust, understanding, and loyalty to the business and it's leaders.
The more you align your business strategy with a people first mentality the less obstacles you will run into. Employee performance, non issue, everyone knows you have their best interest. Employee retention, non issue, you have given them every reason to stay. Attracting new talent, non issue, the word of your people are enough to attract potential candidates.
Even choosing your tech needs a people first look. If the tech works for your business model, make sure it is user friendly. The easier a system is to use, the more effective an employee will become. How much time do you think you would gain if your system was easier to use? How much money are you losing with a difficult system? These questions are at the heart of technology and it's ability to interact with the employee.
There are many things you can do to help your business progress and grow. The most important, making sure everything aligns and understands the goals and direction of the company. Without that understanding and unification, you might as well put down the drawing board.