Leverage Your Company's True Potential

Leveraging your company's true potential involves an evaluation that considers your people, market presence, investments, processes, and leadership discipline. The collective skills and talents of your employees are crucial, as are the markets they serve and the strategic investments you’ve made. This evaluation is an ongoing journey, as a company must continuously evolve and adapt to new challenges and opportunities. Your potential is not a fixed destination but a dynamic path of growth and development.

You’ve developed processes and procedures over time that reflect the company's efficiency and adaptability. Some firms develop these on their own while others are influenced (or pushed) by the needs and expectations of their best customers. Either way, the company matures and the ‘how we do it’ part of the business continues to evolve and improve.

Every organization makes claim that their biggest strength is their people. No argument with that statement. A key difference that I see in successful businesses is that developing their people is an offensive skill – they do it well and on purpose. These firms have a crystal-clear understanding that their people are at the core of the enterprise and that the care and feeding of the team should not be left to chance.

The markets you serve and the strategic investments you’ve made should be in alignment. You’ve selected the markets that you are passionate about and can make a difference there. You understand their strategies and how they use print to help drive their business. The team has subject matter experts who can talk the talk and walk the walk. Clients lean on you as a trusted advisor to help them navigate their marketplace and successfully execute that next campaign. That makes for a great working relationship. The strategic investments you’ve made include the equipment, software, technology, and the right people to connect the dots and create a winning production environment and provide a stunning customer experience.

Finally, your leadership style plays a key role in steering the business, fostering a culture of discipline and innovation. This extends to your leadership team as they help drive the business and nurture the core values of the business. This journey isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. It’s filled with potholes, S-curves, and distractions and you’ll be tested each day.

Leveraging your company's potential is a pivotal step to making sure you’re on the right path and hitting your marks. Take a hard look at your people, market presence, investments, processes, and leadership discipline. Successfully operating a business in a fast-paced industry forces you to continuously evolve and adapt to new challenges and opportunities. And remember, your potential is not a fixed destination but a dynamic path of growth and development.

Enjoy the ride!

If you have questions or want to share your experiences, please reach out to me. Good luck and let me know how you’re doing.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to ambitious owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic advice and insight, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.