This week’s focus: I took out one key management lesson from this week’s ‘autumn statement’ from George Osborne, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer. My big take-out was that the Chancellor has given himself very little room for manoeuvre in managing the UK economy and, as a result, has found that his fortunes are now being dictated by external events beyond his control.
Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, once said that his company was ‘fixed on the vision, flexible on the journey’. In other words, while the business has clear objectives, it adapts and flexes its plans and initiatives according to dynamic market conditions. Mr Osborne, on the other hand, appears to be ‘fixed on the vision, and fixed on the journey’, and that is not an approach I would recommend to any of my clients.
Perhaps the political realities mean that Mr Osborne has no choice about his plan, but you do. Where and how could you be more flexible in achieving your objectives?
Off the record: Chasing Pavements by Adele
I’ve made up my mind, don’t need to think it over
If I’m wrong I am right, don’t need to look no further
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
© Stuart Cross 2011. All rights reserved.