Print business leaders often think the biggest challenges are talent, technology, or market conditions. Not dismissing these at all, but one that is often overlooked is internal, the belief that we’re already doing all we can. This mindset can quietly cap growth, innovation, and engagement and is often framed by their experiences. I’ve written that we know what we know. And what we know is shaped by where we’ve been, what we’ve read and listened to, our experiences and what’s on our calendar. Who are you hanging around with and what’s on your to-do list? The good news is that you can influence these by the decisions you make every day.
The Comfort of Familiar
Success can breed complacency. Teams get comfortable doing what’s worked before, as long as the variables don’t change. The concern is that the variables change daily and are often subtle and go undetected. “We’re busy” becomes the substitute for “we’re improving.” My challenge is this: what are you working on today that will make tomorrow better than yesterday? Leaders question assumptions and push for the next level of performance–starting with their own performance, habits and behavior
Recognizing the Warning Signs
What are the warning signs? Flat growth despite a strong market, the same 5 names on every new project, and team leaders saying, “we don’t have time for that.” This problem isn’t laziness; it’s just a lack of perspective, a lack of belief.
How to Break the Belief Barrier
Please note, this isn’t meant to suggest blind optimism. This is having a unified clarity of where the business needs to go and a roadmap on how to get there. Here are a few ideas to help break the barrier to progress.
Read the full feature on Printing Impressions, a publication of PRINTING United Alliance, ASI’s strategic partner.
