Slow Down Economy

Mankind is always changing and ever adapting. But it never experienced something like this what it is facing now. It takes time to soak in the changes which our natural world gives us but we have added our bit as well to this input. The difference is that our bit is immense and happening too frequently these days. Obsolescence was never this quick in our world.

Just when we were thinking that we have got in terms with the industrial revolution, the technological revolution wave took over. Unlike other phases which come and go, technology is changing by the day.

Catching on this wave, many business rose, promising white collared jobs to many. To set up and run a business was never this easy. Moreover, a 24×7 job environment was also in place, reaching right to you anytime anywhere. Man hours increased, critical decision making improved, an emergency can always be taken care of immediately. The productivity got a shot in the arms and things looked really good. The initial thrust given by this was also essential considering pushing a completely new culture down everyone’s throat. But gradually, the burnout culture is coming in terms with its limitations. The weariness of the technological load crept into the people in the middle of it simply because we don’t respect it and use it for a long term cause.

Workers are gradually evolving and have started demanding their development holistically & not just in terms of salary. Now a days, in many levels we are hearing about conflicts between managers and workers regarding this. But the true leaders had the scent of this; many have made some far reaching changes in the management styles which is there for us too see in the companies of repute. The common knowledge which both of them understand is to increase quality productivity and rightly evolving with the times keeping the years ahead in mind. People who don’t understand this are actually discounting the future and burning themselves out.

In the chaotic world amidst technology, people are understanding that slowing down is the way to go by assimilating the innumerable inputs and finding a balance between the high velocity modern life and the ‘pre-revolutions’ age of living. Slowing down is the only sustainable and steady way to move forward in these times.

This is having consequences on business which are not ready to accept this or allow this change. They are having a hard time to please their employees and also in giving better deliverables to their consumers, leading them nowhere. When things are not set in place at the right time, good people set to leave which should the worst nightmare of any manager.

The new wave of thinking is growing by the day. The kind of holidays people are taking, taking yoga & tai-chi classes, increasing interest in meditation, stress on work-life balance and the kind of articles being shared on social media are glimpses that show how people are changing. After all, its exhausting to deal with the edginess of fast living.

We need to accept this new phenomenon which mankind has itself found to grow & evolve in yet another times witnessing great changes.

A case for Consultancy

Way the word ‘Consultancy’ has been understood has changed over the times. In today’s business parlance, it has become a fuzzy world in itself.

The business which has been made around consultancy is now in a sticky situation. We are drifting from true intentioned consultancy because of the working of twin factors.

Firstly, consultancy firms are trying to get business out of anything through heavy BD activities, which more often lead to a non-cohesive consultancy.

This has consequently build up enough of hot air and led to a development of wisdom which is shared by clients where they say that consultancy is majorly forced & unnecessary. Many a times, the clients themselves take decisions, provoked by PR activities and the innate urge to get consultancy.

Due to the growing of such attitude, from all the parties, true consultancy has eventually been dwarfed. Moreover, the quality of that ‘true consultancy’ has plummeted because the pool of quality skilled consultants has been distributed to number of consultancy wings in number of firms. The best part is that in order to make up a sizable consultancy team, companies tend to fill the remainder with professionals which are nascent in the industry/fresh MBAs. Earlier, the ratio was opposite, which apart from giving quality work, helped the young professionals to grow well under excellent tutelage.

The hated phrase in the coterie of consultants is “I don’t need a consultant to tell about my own business”. But going by the consultancies offered these days, it might be right for many of the consultants.

It is necessary to state here that at this juncture of the economy, the one thing which is absolutely essential is quality consultancy. Some big changes are required to be done and some serious inward thinking as well.

The basic Do’s, which everyone knows are pointed below, but they are accompanied with points which are needed at this hour to set things back to the Do’s from where we have faltered:

• Analyse a business from a fresh pair of eyes perspective #This basic cannon has been vandalized by both the consultants and clients. The consultants become more busy in establishing interpersonal relationships and loose sight to see the basic issues at hand. At the other hand, the client is too resilient to understand that they truly have an issue resulting from an attitude ‘This cannot happen in MY backyard’. Both the parties need to get their act right over this issue.
• Come up with observations with complete candor. #Consultants need to have candor and be vocal about observations. The thought of making revelation, no matter how big it may be, about the business should never be held back.
• Aim to be pulled, not to push. # If You aim for the latter, it really won’t be sustainable or things would eventually come up to be very difficult to handle.
• The consultancy ‘Industry’ has to go along together. #This is one such industry where clamouring to reach an exalted place, leaving others would lead to nothingness. It is one such industry, which is already small and must strive for sustained and quality growth, together.