Köngen, March 25, 2021 – There will be no back to “business as usual” after Corona, not even with regard to the topic of leadership. For it became clear in the crisis which leadership concepts companies need in order to react so that they are fit for transformations and changes. As a current market study by the consulting company Staufen shows, however, it is proving difficult for many companies to make insights gained in the pandemic into the “new normal.”
“Regardless of how much individual industries are currently affected by the pandemic, at many companies substantial ‘clean-up work’ is due,” says Andreas Sticher, partner for restructuring at the consulting company Staufen. Here the bandwidth ranges from hard restructuring due to acute financial problems to longer-term transformation processes intended to equip companies well for upcoming changes with regard to sustainable business models, e-mobility, etc.
“However, such projects can only unleash their full potential if we focus on people and the topic of leadership,” continues restructuring expert Sticher. A true transformation includes more than cost reductions and leaner processes. “The view has to be on the organization behind these and leadership hierarchies have to be adapted accordingly,” is his recommendation.
The Staufen consultant refers here to lessons learned in the Corona crisis: “Above all, it was the rigid, strictly hierarchical companies that had difficulty asserting themselves in crisis mode. Agile, flexible, modern companies were in a much better position to manage the shifts due to lockdown and severed supply chains.”
In the opinion of restructuring expert Sticher, external shocks will continue to upend companies’ future planning. In addition, advancing digitalization will require an ever-higher tempo. “Companies have the specialized knowledge. But anyone who wants to secure success for the long term has to bring a positive, open mindset for change.”
According to Sticher, many leaders are still orienting themselves according to classic methods and goal systems. However, it is crucial that leaders think in holistic fashion: “Leaders and company culture have to promote the ability to change. There will be a demand for leaders who are not only capable of preparing people in the company for new challenges, but who are themselves enthusiastic about these changes. They will have to explain why it is essential to change, and to establish confidence so that people’s fear of the uncertain future can be allayed and replaced with clear-cut objectives and steps for action.”
When casting off old patterns of thought and behavior, external input also helps. That’s why Staufen AG offers best-practice visits and an extensive academy program on the topic of leadership. “Business plans, fixed processes, and strategic goals are still relevant and will define a framework for operative decisions,” says Staufen partner Sticher. “But given increasing complexity, entrepreneurial activity increasingly requires controlling units that act independently. Leaders have to prepare themselves for this ‘new normal’ right away.”
Download the white paper for free
More on this topic in the white paper “Predictive Restructuring – Corona Update.”
|
For more information: STAUFEN.AG Consulting.Academy.Investment. Julia Asenkerschbaumer Mobile: +49 177 6982 019 |
Press: Thöring & Stuhr Arne Stuhr Mittelweg 142 D-20148 Hamburg Mobile: +49 177 3055 194 |
About Staufen AG – www.staufen.ag
Inside every company there is an even better one. With this conviction, Staufen AG has been advising and qualifying companies and employees for more than 25 years. Markets are on the move – the competitive pressure is enormous. Staufen helps to quickly bring about the right changes, increase productivity, improve quality and increase innovative strength. With the appropriate strategies and methods, the international transformation consultancy ensures rapid and measurable success. In order to leverage the potential available in every company, Staufen consultants establish a lively and sustainable culture of change together with executives and employees. The Academy of Staufen AG also offers certified, practice-oriented training courses. From the international locations, more than 320 employees serve customers all over the world. In 2021, Staufen AG was recognized by “brand eins” as “Best Consultants” for the seventh year in a row. According to the renowned industry study “Hidden Champions 2020,” the consulting firm is Germany’s best Lean Management consultancy and was honored several times with the “Best of Consulting” award by the “Wirtschaftswoche” journal.
