Leading Change: How Canadian Businesses Can Adapt and Thrive

The times, they are changing…

I have been listening and reading the news a lot over the past number of weeks, much more than usual. 

While fighting through all of the rhetoric, political commentary and highly emotional sense of both injustice and pride for our country, I am preparing our business for a new way of working as we determine what’s next for our country and our economy.

I am also thinking about how we support the organizations we work with as they develop their new normal in a world with different trading partners, a focus on Canadian products and services and a renewed sense of buying local. I’ve also been considering how we, as business leaders who specialize in HR, can lead change. 

Here’s my plan:

1. Focus on Strategy

Focus on strategy – which always precedes structure – help with conversations around diversification of products and services, new markets, improved logistics, automation – focused on increasing efficiency, generating more revenue and reducing the cost of doing business all using a people-centered lens

2. Re-engineer processes 

Help become as efficient as possible in absorbing margin impacts associated with tariffs. Work with the team on process redesign, training, and change management, and do it as fast as possible. Analyze workflow to reduce non-essential work and cross-train to build a resilient workforce

3. Advocate for pulling down barriers 

 Inter-provincial trade AND talent barriers that are no longer serving us well as a country need to be addressed – advocate for credential recognition and challenge protocols that won’t serve our businesses.

4. Generate new ideas

Build capability and capacity in innovation, develop leadership at every level of the organization that is focused on problem solving 

5. Lead change 

 Focus on helping your organization pivot by engaging and enabling employees in making the necessary changes for our organizations to survive and thrive. 

6. Remember your values 

Consider the well-being of your team and yourself. Should there be job loss, treat individuals with dignity and respect. You are defined by the strength of your relationships, as we have come to know even more clearly in the past few weeks.

Finally, be a dealer of hope – we will get through this; it is a moment in time. Canadian businesses will restructure, have more reliable trading partners, build more values-based relationships, and continue to demonstrate our ability to bounce back.