It’s always exciting to share what we do with other business owners. Often it hasn’t occurred to them that they could work with an outside studio as if they were part of their team.

With the advent of accessible AI and automation, the need for continuous adaptation and innovation is more vital than ever. As an established company, you may have found a comfortable rhythm, but being comfortable can often lead to a plateau, which usually leads to business slowdown and shrinkage.

To ensure sustained growth and success, businesses need to be open to embracing new ideas and fresh perspectives.

Entrenched Ways and Limited Vision: Over time, it's all too common for businesses to become stuck in their ways and unable to identify or pursue opportunities for growth and improvement.

This lack of perspective can come from several factors: Deep-rooted company culture: Strong company cultures can be a double-edged sword. While they often provide a sense of identity and cohesion, they can also create an environment where new ideas are stifled, the status quo remains unchallenged, and action is dogmatic.

Established routines and procedures: Familiar routines can lead to a complacent mindset, which limits the ability to recognise and react to new opportunities and threats. It also makes your business an uninspiring place to work.

Confirmation bias and groupthink: When a company's leadership and workforce predominantly share similar viewpoints, it's easy to fall into the trap of confirmation bias, where new ideas are dismissed because they don't fit the prevailing narrative. This can be compounded by groupthink, where dissenting opinions are suppressed in the interest of maintaining harmony.

If everyone agrees all the time, there’s probably a problem. Lack of confrontation is listed as one of the five dysfunctions of a team in Patrick Lencioni’s seminal book.

Limited knowledge pool: Relying solely on internal resources can restrict the flow of new ideas and insights, as the collective knowledge within the organisation becomes stale and outdated.

Inviting Fresh Perspectives: Hopefully, you can see there are some real downsides to keeping everything in-house. To stay ahead, you should actively seek fresh perspectives. 

Do this by

1. Inviting external input - Actively seek input from industry experts or consultants who can provide an outsider's perspective. These individuals are often better equipped to spot inefficiencies and suggest novel solutions, as they are not constrained by ingrained ways of thinking.
2. Encouraging diversity - By creating a workplace that values different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking, businesses can harness the power of diverse opinions. This helps break down barriers, fosters innovation, and allows for more creative problem-solving.
3. Engaging in cross-industry learning - Exploring best practices and strategies from other industries can lead to valuable insights and inspiration. This encourages the adoption of innovative solutions that may have never been considered otherwise.

Why Fresh Perspectives Are Powerful

The power of fresh perspectives lies in their ability to challenge assumptions, disrupt the status quo, and reveal new paths to success. By fostering a culture of open-mindedness and continuous improvement, businesses can uncover hidden opportunities and develop innovative solutions that drive growth and competitiveness.

Let’s see a few examples from the real world:

• LEGO revitalised its brand by collaborating with adult fans and incorporating their fresh perspectives into product development and customer engagement initiatives.
• Pixar Animation Studios utilises its "Braintrust" approach, bringing together diverse teams to offer candid feedback and generate innovative ideas, ultimately leading to groundbreaking films.
• McLaren Applied Technologies, originally rooted in Formula 1 racing, has leveraged its expertise in other industries, such as healthcare, logistics, and public transport, to improve efficiency and performance.

When we run our Clarity Workshops with clients, we map out their entire business process and identify bottlenecks and potentials for improvement - by automation, portals, or simply more efficient practices. Whoever we’re working with, they’re always blown away and excited by how we can spot this potential - it’s right there in front of them, and they always intuitively know what needs to be done, but it takes someone outside of their company to clearly articulate the problem and propose the solution. That’s the power of these workshops.

Future Possibilities: You should be getting the sense now of how you can unleash the transformative power of fresh perspectives, driving innovation and paving the way for sustained growth. By doing so, you'll find that your business is better positioned to adapt to market changes, streamline processes, and overcome challenges that may have previously seemed insurmountable.

Imagine the possibilities: As you embrace fresh perspectives, your business can tap into new markets, develop cutting-edge products and services, and create innovative strategies that leave the competition trailing in your wake. The ripple effect of this kind of change can have a profound impact on company culture, employee morale, and overall performance.

Inviting fresh perspectives into your organisation is not only a catalyst for innovation but also a powerful tool for unlocking growth potential. By seeking external input, encouraging diversity, and engaging in cross-industry learning, you'll create an environment where new ideas thrive, leading to a more dynamic and successful business.

Don't be afraid to challenge the status quo and embrace change - the rewards can be truly transformational.