The first quarter of the 2025 calendar year is now complete. These first three months of the year saw the transition of the federal administration and many changes that accompany that sequence of events. Independent of views on one administration approach to the next, business still goes forward. It could be viewed as a very long, winding, hilly road or possibly through the perspective of a carousel going round and round and up and down.
Business leaders, both large and small, are attempting to navigate the various tariff and other economic dynamics to position their organizations for the best future outcomes. This is no small task for even the best and brightest in the marketplace. Certain industries will feel the impact more so than others, but the challenge remains as to what will ultimately impact your business.
Outside of the marketplace dynamics, which are outside most business owners’ control, you can control or at least have significant influence on what is going on in your organization and how you are prepared for potential challenges. For those leaders who have been riding the business carousel for a number of years, you may have a more stable outlook than those more recent business leaders who are making their first go-round on the carousel. Granted the round and round of the carousel remain consistent. The up and down movement remains consistent. What changes are the variables surrounding the carousel? The people looking to do business with your organization can change. The environment in which business is conducted can change, and many other variables.
As leaders, we need to stay true to the strategies laid out in the annual planning effort, which hopefully took place last fall and is now three months into execution. You have 3 months of data points that need your attention. What trends are you seeing? What adjustments might be valuable to consider? In some cases, you may not have enough data as the administration changeover is still less than 100 days old. Lots have happened since late January and more will likely come. The dynamics, this time going around on the carousel, appear to be coming faster and with greater significance. This appearance may be true, or the results of past cycles operating at a slower pace may make this one seem lightning fast. Regardless of how the current administration implements these various factors, we business leaders can learn a few things as we ride around again on the business carousel.
It is critical that your organization stays true to its Core Purpose, Core Values, and Core Principles in times of evolution to keep your team aligned with the organization’s strategies. Let the variation take place outside the organization while internally, the business remains stable on a solid foundation and framework. If you think about the engineering of a carousel, it starts with safety for its riders. Committing to providing an enjoyable experience while not inducing too much fright. It is rhythmic – up and down and round and round. You might say like clockwork. By aligning your team to solidly engineered purpose, values, and principles, your organization can be agile to external changes while keeping the team aligned and confident about what the future unfolds.
This week, revisit your “Core” elements, including Purpose, Values, and Principles. Evaluate the trends of the first three months of the year and adjust to external factors while remaining consistent with the internal foundation and framework.
Looking to galvanize your organization’s foundation and framework for the future? JKL Associates is here to assist you in your efforts. Give a “Promise Guide” a call at MI (313) 527-7945 or FL (407) 984-7246.
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