The flow of water

Hearing companies like Jaguar Land Rover laying off 4,000 of its workforce is sad and makes me mad!

China’s growth and independence from purchasing Western prestige consumer goods such as cars, fashion and technology have been well documented and debated over the last five years.

Well, they appear to have arrived, and surprise, it looks like they can either make it, fake it or certainly beat it at quality and price, which is a significant reinvention of what was known to be cheap and poorly assembled merchandise in the main. 

Revolution

Most of us expected this revolution, which has been debated with trepidation over the past 5 years, while this Eastern steady revolution has been in full swing! Most British companies affected by this significant reinvention have enjoyed double-digit growth over the same period.

Surely this has not been an oversight? 

We are confronted by layoffs and tales of woe, almost as though these companies have been living in glorious isolation from the rest of the world. 

Yes, Brexit is a distraction and a pain to many; however, I wonder if it will shake us up just enough and hopefully in time to do what we Brits have been first class at doing over the years, namely that of courageous reinvention and innovation, not overly relying on technology or product but driven by our great workforce who with inspirational leadership, can make a difference (M.A.D.)

Where have all our great leaders gone?

Now is the time for a revolution for our young aspiring leaders and our most valuable asset, our workforce talent, not to be used and abused as a buffer to be hired and fired so that we may continue to grow year on year without due consideration to the loss of positive workforce mindset. 

“Does this really matter?”

I hear it said that profit and growth are all that matters. 

Well, I believe that a change in people’s mindset is the only sustainable way forward.

A New Mindset

I wonder what the mindset and morale are like for those unfortunate enough to be laid off by Jaguar Land Rover and other companies under the guise of necessity to balance the books. 

I believe this to be a wholly short-term and woefully damaging action, creating a destructive mindset in those who sadly rely on their corporate leaders. 

Thankfully, Shackleton didn’t give up on his team! 

Mindset, loyalty and creativity are the new currency of the modern world, leading to sustainable growth through exemplary leadership and highly prized teams despite technology or competition. 

Toyota

Maybe we should consider following the model of Toyota, which has appeared over the years to be able to manage continued success through people and purpose without such short-term destructive actions. 

Their one-hundred-year strategy and well-published purpose, combined with their creation of a learning organisation, should be an inspiration to us all. Maybe that’s why, against all the hype and noise of the electric car, they will launch their first commercially available hydrogen car in 2021. 

No mean feat can only be attained through powerful vision, clarity of purpose, a motivated, loyal workforce, and respect for its constant evolution supported through a learning-based organisation.

Oh! And yes, a quality of leadership that doesn’t rely on performance management, spreadsheets, and the rise and fall of a disposable workforce.

Bring on the water!