CIO OPINION
Make good predictions by embracing uncertainty
Promote challenging the norm to empower transformation
Though uncertainty has always been a part of the equation , COVID-19 has jump-started inspiring innovative responses from businesses , proving that necessity is the mother of invention .
Dealing with uncertainty is all about your ability to be nimble , to be able to respond quickly to new trends and opportunities . But , as important as knowing when to jump into an opportunity is , knowing when to jump out of one is crucial too . Think small experiments – the ones that you are not betting your whole company on , quick cycles whereby at the end of it you have something concrete to look at and reflect , and also the power to pivot or even stop any initiative . Innovative ideas need room to mature and evolve , so give it the environment to do so .
To get the most out of an experimentation culture , the perception of success and failure also needs to shift . Put value learning over outcomes . Having multiple small experiments will not yield the expected result , but they will help shape the ones that do . By embracing uncertainty , you ’ ll be better positioned to catch opportunities that you may not have found otherwise .
To put it bluntly , innovation will most likely not come from senior leadership , and it will not come from directions such as ‘ create something innovative this year ’. Instead , it will come from your front line workers and their deep understanding of what customers expect , want and need . It ’ s up to you as a leader to foster an environment that values challenging ideas .
Spend some time thinking about what kind of environment you have . Do your teams feel empowered and comfortable bringing new ideas to further business goals ? Do they feel that they have a voice and that they are being heard ? Look around during a meeting – if everyone is nodding instead of speaking their mind , there ’ s a missed opportunity to improve .
In order for your entire organisation to be driven by customer needs , every area of your business should have a single view of customer data .
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