Sure, it is easy to tell someone to stay relevant and your business will last. Ok, but what exactly does that entail? Relevance is not something that occurs naturally. It is something people and businesses need to strive for each and every day in our fast-changing world. What does relevance mean to you, personally, and to your business? Inextricably, the two are interconnected through culture. Relevance is about perpetual curiosity, a passion for problem-solving, and agility.

Perpetual curiosity paves the way for new connections to be made.

What do some of the most successful companies and people have in common? It’s easy. They foster a culture of curiosity, learning, and are not afraid to try something new and fail. In fact, in these environments, teams are encouraged to try and fail. Some of the most innovative solutions came from “crazy ideas” in a brainstorming session. If learning, growing and, therefore, relevance is not a cornerstone of your day-to-day, then it is only a matter of time before the inevitable happens. Perpetual curiosity is key for business development but also on your workforce management. What tools does your team need to continue their own personal development of curiosity? Supporting your team through educational and training opportunities shows them your appreciation and confidence in their work; therefore, bolstering longevity. Studies also show that there is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach to employment. The same applies to personal team member fulfillment. People are naturally much more curious about other industries and other roles. In recent years, employees are less afraid to leave a company to try out something new and exciting. If your business handles exits well, that doesn’t mean they will be gone forever. In fact, they may end up referring great new applicants and being an advocate for their old employer.

Training and upskilling can future-proof your business and build longevity.

What can you do to stay relevant not only to your customers but also to your team members? Modern day talent management is full of creative solutions. Upskilling and retraining are now essential to help your team members learn new industry changes or to develop an entirely new set of skills for a new role. In the past, employers showed fear of investing in a team member that might leave after spending valuable resources on development opportunities. Try turning that fear on its head. What might happen if you do not invest in your team members? The team member is likely to feel frustrated, devalued, and less motivated to bring fresh ideas. Investment in education can help reinvent a person and end up future-proofing your company. There are additional ways of rethinking your workforce to stay relevant. Employment does not just have to be full-time versus part-time, benefits versus no benefits. Your workforce can include a mixed bag of full-time, consultants, contractors, freelancers and advisors. There is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach to talent management and creating an efficient and fulfilled team. Ask each employee what they value most and see if it is a good fit for the company. Can you make it happen through creative solutions or new agile systems?

A passion for problem solving will build relevance.

CEO at LiftIgniter, Jon Shalowitz said it best, “To stay relevant, you must remain open-minded to customer feedback and new advancements from not only within your specific industry but also in adjacent industries. This means keeping your finger on the pulse and constantly being prepared to learn something new.” So, let go of your ego and be prepared for new challenges with a solution-oriented approach. Problem solving can manifest itself in many different ways like through digital transformation or new talent management. Train yourself and your team to look for the pain points and then create a culture around solving those pain points. In the end, isn’t everyone paying for a solution?

To be a part of the future of work, agility is key.

Yes, from love to business, timing is everything. The best laid plans must be upended from time-to-time to strike while the iron is hot. This does not mean you shouldn’t have processes and procedures. Creating an agile company requires a framework for scalability. But, not frameworks that create boundaries and hurdles. The truth is that none of us know what tomorrow holds with how quickly industries change. Using your resources today to be ready at the right time will make for quicker and, therefore, more fruitful transitions. This may mean that your business is actively networking, catering to a new customer, B2B instead of B2C, or even using a new workforce model. Workforces are now looking for portfolio professions where they can work on many different types of interesting new projects in and outside of the industry. They want more control over the work they choose and how they choose to perform that work. Your business must be adaptable enough to be in front of the right customer at the right time, but also agile enough to respond to the will of your workforce.

Get an outside opinion on how to stay relevant in your business through digital transformation.

If you are not a techie, how do you stay on top of the latest technologies available? How do you find the time to explore adjacent industries and to do strategic planning when you work long hours? TECKpert’s assessments are made for this reason to find the best solutions through digital transformation to keep your business relevant. Using industry experts and technology experts, together a unique solution will make your business strategically forward-thinking and ready for anything.