Leadership Principle #13. Landmines – the Career Killers. Part 3 of 5 – Failure to Adapt

Leadership Principle #13.  Landmines – the Career Killers. 

Part 3 of 5 – Failure to Adapt

The only guarantee in life is the inevitability of change.  In your career, you’ve likely already witnessed and experienced significant change.  Business models, market conditions, executive leadership teams, go-to-market strategies…these factors and more are always changing. 

The tricky thing about change is that we don’t know what shape it will take in our business (and life) until it happens.  So how are you preparing for the unknown?  Success still requires good leaders to anticipate change so they can prepare, even when they don’t know exactly what form it will take.  And then, when you are eventually faced with this new situation, your ability to adapt to the change becomes critical to your business’ success, and to your longevity as CEO.

The massive failure of Kodak to adapt to the changing market place and embrace the rise of digital photography (a technology they even invented!) highlights just how serious this landmine can be.  Similarly, the demise of Blockbuster also demonstrates how leadership blunders and failures to adapt can take down even the most robust brands.

So we go back to the question, “how are you preparing for the unknown?”  Who in your organization is talking to the customers, looking at future trends and watching for the emergence of marketplace disruptors?  And I don’t mean just once a year at your strategy meeting.  That isn’t enough.  You need to be committed to this work, so your business will be in a place where it can adjust and adapt quickly when change occurs. 

One thing I can tell you is the failure is guaranteed if you click on the auto-pilot in this regard.  Lack of preparation, followed by a lack of adaptation in a changing business landscape….boom….landmine.

I can help guide you on ways to anticipate change, as you prepare to adapt and evolve your business.  I have coached other CEO’s on how to avoid this potential career killer, and can assist you in process as well.

Next landmine…Those Above You.