Articles

Making Lemonade

The economic downturn has begun to define business conversations, with people listing concerns and stories of misfortune.  Yet in recent weeks we’re hearing more from some of our customers about how they are changing their approach for the better.

• The motor dealer that’s struggling to sell new vehicles but has made team effort to sell service contracts.  They know that people will hold onto vehicles longer, and they aren’t making commissions from sales or finance contracts which could be depressing for the sales team, but they also know that those people who aren’t sales customers at the moment are needing more comprehensive servicing and repairs.  Switching the sales team to get out and secure long term service contracts keeps revenue flowing in, locks out competition and keeps those contacts happy ready for when they buy again.

• The inventive sales person who found himself trapped at the centre of an international crisis.  Yes, he was worried about his situation, but kept himself calm and focussed by talking to some of the other business people trapped in the same situation.  No-one was hurt and he secured three long term contracts.

• The employment business that faced a major drop off in new jobs available to fill, switched their focus to supplying outplacement services, helping people who were thinking of taking early retirement or voluntary redundancy to make informed decisions, and prepare for future career opportunities by giving them all the expertise on finding new employment that only a recruiter can offer.  They even found extra interim opportunities as a by product of their outplacement success.

What these businesses and individuals had in common was the ability to switch their focus, identify new opportunities and adapt their skills and expertise to make the most of a changed environment.  If you’ve been handed some lemons and you’d like to talk about how Predaptive can help your organisation and its employees to become more adaptable and to take advantage of ambiguity contact:

Claudine McClean
T: +44 (0) 1789 734333
E: claudinem@predaptive.com