Being Strategic about the Coming Upswing (1of2)

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Being Strategic about the Coming Upswing (1of2)

McKinsey just released an intriguing article on the upcoming economic recovery, with a thought provoking graph that shouts at you –
“it’s coming sooner than later…
it will happen quickly and by the time it is in the news,
you’ll have missed the early big push.”

What do you need to have in place to take advantage of coming upswing…
to not miss it? What I’m going to suggest is going to surprise you.

Let’s see now, what’s on your short list for not missing the coming
upswing? You might be thinking:
   1. Getting the next product complete, or
   2.  Maybe it’s a new distribution channel, or JV partner, or
   3.  Maybe you’ve got your eye on an emering or under-served market

In fact, all those things can be critically important to take advantage of before they pass you by in a hungry world market, especially the
US market, that is going to jump at good news.

Guess what, while those options can all be very appropriate,
they all miss one very fundamental key. They are all outward focused.

So just in case you’re over-looking this area, I wanted to get this
update out to you in February, because it looks like things are already starting to pick up.

Here it is, in one word.

The secret, the key, the ace in the hole, rocket you need in place, tuned up and ready to go… is PEOPLE.

What? That’s right, people.

More specifically it is this:

1. Get the right people on the bus, in place, focused on where
and how they deliver best, and

And this one is even more important…

2. Having the right work contract in place.

This second point is worth its own blog. I’ll continue and write about what the right work contract looks like tomorrow… promise.

Bottom Line:
There is an economic upswing already developing and McKinsey’s research suggests that the biggest growth jump happens in the first phase – a phase you and I don’t want to miss out on. One of the sleepers about being prepared for an economic upturn, is the people factor. Not just having the right people, but having the right kind of work contract and culture in place. More about that on the next blog.

Project Management + Task Mangement + Performance Management = Strategic Management