Bend the curve in 2018

“Changing the conditions of a problem so that the output or the result improves, resulting in the "curve", or graph of changing conditions over time, being "bent" in a more positive direction” (Businessdictionary.com).

During an important and exciting event in Washington I was lucky to be invited to, I had the opportunity to listen to an highly inspirational speech from a Professor of the Columbia University which at this point represents one of my main takeaways of the whole 2-days Event.

The main theme was “bending the curve” and it has sparked a series of thoughts I would like to express here and address them to the Markets out there, made of Companies but most importantly, made of people and relationships, aspirations, dreams and visions to be pursued starting from this year.

What is then “bending the curve” all about?

It is about that development line to be applied to any human or business activities that we aspire to spike up as soon and as steep as possible, make them successful within a limited amount of time.

A line that will be flat at first: a line that in today’s world is spiking up sooner and quicker than ever before representing an opportunity and a challenge to whom, Companies and people, who cannot afford to stay behind: on the contrary, the ones able to anticipate the Market transition, or ideally, create it, will be the ones coming out winning the current and constant paradigm shifts.

But if you are a Company and you are giving yourself the opportunity of sheer surviving if not at all to grow in the current challenging market, there are probably a few aspects you may want to observe and possibly, do better than ever before: as change will never occur without change.

Here are some general thoughts:

Be Bold.

“Go where no man has ever gone before” (Star Trek).

Within reason, consider taking actions never thought possible before: just have the courage and allocate part of your energy reserve to bold steps, looking outside of the box, thinking different, check your certainties, listen to people and facts you have so far, taken for granted. Challenge the limitations you think you have, checking if they represent more and more sheer hindering factors to be dealt with during this year.

Take Risk.

You want to check how bold you are? Check your ability to take risks.

Although you must estimate the risk, it is not of this business world to aim at growing and claiming at the same time to want to be risk adverse. For a Risk is an Opportunity: the latter will disappear as soon as you do not appreciate and accept the Risk.

Challenging the way you operate is related to exploring, as opposed to feeling comfortable with the status quo.

And yet again, even the boldest will want to know what the risk is.

And the questions then become: did I truly understand the consequences of taking that risk? Did I assess and financially quantify it? What would be the worst case scenario and am I able to afford it? Can I compromise?

Your Values.

To build up a new business, a new project, or anything else you are going to be accountable for in front of stakeholders and families, understand what are the Values you represent at most, and dwell only on those to solidly build up.

Create People.

“We do not hire smart people and tell them what to do: we hire them so that they can tell us what to do”.

If our only preoccupation is to maintain up the walls of the building created, out of legitimate fear that it may all come crumbling down, we may not be able to do one important thing: listen.

Listen especially to the ones that are coming new into our Organizations, people who care so much to have decided to join in, to be part of the Company’s journey. These people will be challenging at times: but listen to them, as you have hired them for a reason.

Allow Outsiders.

If it is true that we are all equal in a Court of Law, it is also true we are all special and unique.

We all have different and interesting ways to look at what happens around us. We see different things, different opportunities: allow these women and men to express what they have to say, do not confine them, do not box them out of fear.

Create Spaces.

Have you ever noticed that the best ideas come when we are outside, doing outdoor activities?

There is a reason for it, related to chemical, cells and better blood flowing.

Do you keep discussing things only behind closed doors, with little light and poor air?

Allow the ability to create different spaces, different and unusual, meet and discuss over a walk or a run: for creating new body cells allow necessarily new ideas.

Create Culture.

Empowering decision making, cooperating and helping each other in the daily equations will help your curve to bend. When times are tough, the one thing that may save or destroy a Company is contained within a single word: Culture.

Do not preserve it. Create it.

“Bending the curve” is possible, if we all allow ourselves to question what we do, the way we do it.

No change will ever occur without change.

Set the bar high: for if you don’t do it, your Competitor will.

“Live long and prosper”

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this publication are personal and not to be considered the view of any Company.