A leader’s top priority is designing and building successful teams capable of solving customer and organization problems. Building successful teams entails having innovative capabilities and mastering some competencies that sets the organisation apart, and that will attract external talent as well as a talent pool within the organization. Successful teams perform well, sustainably, and under pressure—without close supervision. Despite the rise of digital media and data-driven marketing, a great team’s fundamental role has remained unchanged. Whether it is aligning with the boss’s priorities and overall corporate strategy, selecting the right target markets and customers, understanding customer needs, creating simply better, user-friendly products and services, : all of these are still at the heart…
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PLISM: 2022 IN FOCUS
PLISM is an acronym for a conceptual framework designed by D&I Consulting to enable clarity for individuals and organisations so they can maximize their potential in the marketplace. They include purpose, leadership, innovation, strategy, and marketing. The PLISM framework came about from years of studying what the successful brands have consistently done to make them outlast the competition, stay relevant to their customers, and stand the test of time. PURPOSE For us, the definition of purpose is quite simple. Purpose is the moral DNA that defines a person or organisation’s character and outlook on social, political, economic, and environmental issues. For us at D&I, having a clearly defined purpose, and acting on them will…
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HOW TO KEEP PRODUCING INNOVATIVE IDEAS
How can you do what you did yesterday better today? That is a question you should ask yourself if you are indeed delirious of producing innovative ideas often. Someone tosses a pebble across the pond, while another watches the ripples and tries to turn them into waves. That someone that tossed the pebble is the innovator while the latter is an entrepreneur. That is what Entrepreneurs do. They solve problems, usually by producing innovative ideas. And your relevance is attached to your ability to repeatedly produce innovative ideas that you want to put to work, with a team and solve the many problems around us. I will share with you…
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WICKED PROFITS PROFIT NOT FOR THE LONG TERM
Wicked profits are tactics put in place to box in, trap, exploit unsuspecting or desperate customers for financial gain. I call it “legal fraud.” It is immoral and the long-term impact can be dire. I recall one warm afternoon at The Royal Surrey County Hospital where I visited a friend who was on admission. While grabbing a cup of hot chocolate, I noticed a Chinese lady who was on the phone trying to cancel a contract. It was all too familiar and typical. The quick talking, back patting dodgy sales associate from a Telco company had struck again. Yet another new foreign Student caught in a needless long-term contract. I…
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CREDIBILITY A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
I doubt many organisations think of credibility in terms of building a sustainable competitive advantage in the market place, but having credibility, having integrity, being identified as a trustworthy person or organization has propelled some brands into household names. And the evidence is around us if we pay attention. The idea may sound obvious — but still, only a few of the brands take it seriously. And they are benefiting from it big time, creating unique avenues for competitive advantage. Let me share a few ways. REFERRALS Still the most affordable and authentic form of marketing, being credible has got a number of companies good businesses, especially high stakes projects…
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HOW THE PLISM FRAMEWORK CAN HELP TACKLE BULLYING
With all the current happenings surrounding bullying, all hands must be on deck to help tackle bullying in schools and this framework can help. But first, let’s define who a bully is. It’s defined as a person who is intentionally physically or emotionally cruel to others, especially to those whom they perceive as being vulnerable or of less power or privilege. The issue of bullying is not new, even our grandparents were bullied in school. Bullies are everywhere. They’re in offices, public institutions, or in power. But humanity stands a better chance at curbing this social ill when we tackle it early on in children’s lives. Here’s how the PLISM…
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Be Ready to Welcome the Competition
How would you react when a new competition emerges? Your reaction will be an aggregate of the work you have put in during the “holiday” (pre-competition days) period. But your default disposition should be “bring it on.” Jeff Bezos recently said “our customers are loyal to us right up until the second somebody offers them a better service,” he says. “And I love that. It’s super-motivating for us.” At the beginning, a whole lot of ground work ought to have been done. Opportunity to satisfy a real customer want, a formula to ensure the venture will be profitable and then the key processes and resources that add value to the…
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GOT A POST-PANDEMIC PLAN YET?
Has it occurred to you that the pandemic will be over soon (thanks to technology) and customer needs will still exist? Rather than go with the flow, it’s time to train our mind to discover, learn, relearn and execute. A plan to retain and attract customers after COVID-19 is gone is imperative. And one of the major problems businesses face today is if the behaviour and preferences of customers will change. And what about the business model and the key resources that drive the business? How does the business make money and has that been disrupted? Are your resources, be it human or technology still relevant? The pandemic has been…
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PURPOSE SHOULD BE AT THE CENTRE OF COMPANY STRATEGY
There are a few strategic choices at the disposal of organisations if they intend to grow. Organisations can for instance create new markets by developing their brands into new categories, new price points and even new geographies. They can acquire new capabilities and brands to serve broader stakeholder needs. They can also change the game by inventing entirely new propositions. And then there’s purpose. The reason for being/existence. Well, maybe you can look at it this way; a guide to strategy. Most household brands today have moved purpose to the very heart of their strategic choices which guides their operations. The benefits of a purpose driven strategy are legion. It…
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WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?
Have you ever walked into a retail store, paid for an item only to be asked to share your contact details without an explanation whatsoever? How about receiving a call from a service provider’s account manager only when your business is about to expire? Last one. Ever received a call from a customer care representative of a service provider looking to get your feedback from using their services but that same person has got no idea who you are. I love asking questions. In my many sessions, I’ve found it liberating for both myself and clients. Since you resumed at your office, have you bothered to think about that…
