A business can easily become something that is left behind in by the world. The world moves at such a rapid pace that things that seemed ‘in’ yesterday are ‘out’ today – with technology that is literally the case. As soon as something is made or developed, it’s almost always going to be on the way out – why? Improvements might be on the way. In terms of design, things go out of fashion because tastes change with the time. That wood paneling and funky carpet of the 70’s will be replaced with bright monotones! It can be a course of frustration that things get stale with time, but it has to be remembered that that is a natural way of life – look at food, for example, time doesn’t help it last long, time helps it erode. Time erodes our tastes and interests – as it should do!
One of the most common ways in which a business can be out of touch is with technology. If a business rests on its laurels regarding computers, software and other developments – it can go out of date very fast. This can have a huge adverse effect on productivity as the latest methods, techniques, and technologies pass the business by. Of course, this is only one way that a business can be left behind; there are plenty more ways that do exist, and ideally, any smart business owner will endeavor to avoid them. Businesses that are left behind will pay the price in more ways than one. If your productivity isn’t suffering, your business might be, and you might even have very outdated methods of interacting and communicating with people. Simply put, this is not acceptable at all – in no way shape or form. Your business deserves to be modern, organized and functional and it has to be that way to succeed. A business that is outdated might be forgotten and left behind – not seen as cute, kitschy or vintage!
One of the ways of bringing your business into the modern day – and future proofing it for a while – is to evaluate the use of technology in the workplace. If your business is relying on computers and peripherals that are over five years old, there is a strong chance that it is relying on out of date hardware to get the job done. Out of date hardware and gadgets will suffer from slowness and will affect productivity. They are also susceptible to invasion through cyberattacks as their defenses will be older. Your business and it’s livelihood might be at risk if you’re using old and outdated systems as well – for instance, if you’re still running your systems on Windows XP – your computers are going to be running on extremely archaic software that is almost 15 years old. There have been plenty of amazing updates for it that brought it through to the 2010’s, but you need to consider a complete, large-scale upgrade of your working infrastructure if this is the case. It will come at cost, but at the very least your business won’t be held back by archaic infrastructure any longer! Seriously, get a consultation and see what you can do to ensure your business actually uses technology to its benefit.
It’s not just technology though – your workplace needs to be able to communicate with a diverse audience, and a diversified workforce. There are people from all walks of life in the modern workplace – and that means that outdated notions, concepts, and prejudices need to leave the workforce, as they should have done so a long time ago. If a workplace or a business can’t adapt to working with a diverse workforce, it has a lot to consider and take on board. Education about other cultures and creeds is necessary here, but ensuring that your place of work has a policy to ensure that it treats every single worker equally is a good starting point and will ensure your staff feels safe, secure and comfortable at work. You can’t bend the rules here; there are no excuses for staying in the past and discriminating – even if by accident. There are heavy penalties that face every business owner who does this and engages in this awful behavior.
These are just two ways that your business can stay stuck in the past and they will sap the strength of any business. Innovation is needed for any good business to survive. That could come in plenty of areas. If a business wants to be brave, it should look to lead, rather than react to the things it needs to. A business will find success if it can be innovative and bold, if it can take advantage of all the help on offer – it can stand to lead the way and be an inspiration. Businesses can quickly become stale, and introverted and as we’ve already mentioned time and time again, that’s not a route you want to take. You want to be proud of your business, you want to be a leader in the area! You can only do that by modernizing and keeping up with the times. Otherwise, you are just locking your business off.
A business needs to take care of its premises.Sometimes, this can be a necessity. Building codes and regulations mean that a building will have to keep its structure maintained and up to date to ensure that it isn’t breaking various codes and laws.
The best case of this can be seen with Asbestos. It’s a natural mineral that was practically worshiped for its strength, insulating abilities and its ability to resist heat. It was used in a lot of construction – from cement mixing, to filling walls and fabrics within home and businesses. It was used a lot, and in some areas of Government, it was a necessity in building. The problem with Asbestos is that it was found to be toxic, and blamed as a cause of cancer. It’s banned in a whole bunch of countries, and where it hasn’t been banned, it has suffered massive restrictions in usage and for good reason.
Regulations mean that your building will need to be amended and repaired. It might be an environmental problem – something like asbestos or a structural problem. If you’re operating a physical structure, you need to ensure that you keep up with the times in a legal regard to ensure that your building is kosher by the rule of the law. You can experience heavy fines and punishments if your building is out of date and dangerous!
While you certainly need to keep your business building in good shape because it is the law, you should do it anyway to keep your business fresh and looking good. It simply needs to be done from time to time so that visually, your place of work can look stunning and work for the people working inside it – and work for the customers and clients coming into it. A stunning presence can bring customers into the building.
Right now, glass and acrylic are in – it makes a business look open, and it also adds an environmental touch. It looks clean. Glass doesn’t need to be open and exposed though with decorative window film a finish can be added to the glass – or even the branding of the business. Add your own personal touch and use your premises as a marketing weapon, It should scream your business out loud simply through its looks. Effectively, the premises of the business should be a part of the businesses’ brand. If your businesses place of work is outdated, it might be holding your business back.
The branding of a business is necessary for a business to ensure it looks up-to-date and fresh. A business needs to ensure that its branding works well. Branding should be a signifier of your business and should work for your business. There is no excuse for an out-of-date logo and branding in the modern day and it truly will mean that your business is left behind.
What is branding? It’s not just a logo – it’s your building, your mannerisms, your product. It’s almost everything about your business wrapped up in a tiny package. If your business has branding stuck in the past – you’ll have to update it – because your branding is yet another thing that might be holding your business back. Thankfully, there are plenty of agencies that you can consult to ensure that your branding is changed rapidly.
Your business might be stuck in the past – so get it changed. It might be your building, your branding, your policy or your use of tech – it doesn’t matter. One of these angles will hold you back and ensure that your business doesn’t succeed. You’ll need to make sure that you get your business up-to-date if you want success. Not only that though, once you’re on a level playing field with the rest of the world, but you should also push to become an innovator or a leader. What’s the point of staying stuck in the crowd?
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Vinh Van Lam & Stuart Horrex
Your Coaches ArtSHINE industries
