It wasn’t Alex Ferguson’s hair dryer but…. his commitment to continuous improvement and reinvention that made United champions.  - Blair McPherson

 The trouble with being an innovator is  eventually the rest of the world catches up with you.Ideas and ways of doing things once so radical, so unconventional as to be considered risky even fool hardy are now the accepted way and  may be a little too conventional for the new radicals. Do you give up on ways so successful in the past for new even more radical ways or do you attempt to modify and fine tune what has worked so well for you in the past? Most often it is the latter with diminishing returns. 

 

So how do you stay ahead of the game?

Do you change your CE for one who advocates radical new ways. As yet unproven new ways ? It’s a risk. A more reliable method is to develop a culture of continuous improvement and reinvention. 

 

Some outstanding individuals can transform an organisation but few can keep doing it again and again.  One such individual was Alex Ferguson who embraced continuous improvement and reinvention. His strategies for success are equally applicable to other organisations. Ruthless rebuilding was a characteristic of the Ferguson era. A senior management/leadership team has a life cycle. Well established, experience and loyal individuals need to be moved on so that new talent with fresh ideas and energy can come in and keep the organisation competitive. An emphases on nurturing young talent and recruiting top talent made possible by making the organisation a highly desirable place to work. Recognising the importance of people management skills in getting the best out of employees and keeping them highly motivated and resilient. Adaptability, the strategy remains the same but the tactics change according to the circumstances and new learning. The result a very competitive and agile organisation.

 

An organisation doesn’t need to recruit an Alex Ferguson to be successful but if it wants to stay a head of the game it needs adopt his  perfectionist approach to getting the small details right, his commitment to recruitment and development and employ managers who in addition to technical skills and knowledge have excellent people management skills. 

 

Blair McPherson former Director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk