The start of 2025 has been a year of transition. There are big changes everywhere you look, including in D.C. In our industry, there is no doubt that the market is shifting as well. SCOPE data is trending below last year's numbers, but has continued to provide a window into these market changes. Understanding product distribution trends and how our business compares to the rest of the market has allowed us to make decisions that impact our bottom line.
One way your organizations can adapt to a changing market is by ensuring quick decision making. As the scale of your organization grows, so does the complexity of decision making. Whether you call it corporate red tape, the bureaucratic bottleneck, or an organizational roadblock, many businesses can get bogged down when trying to make fast decisions. Why is this, we ask? Because many times decisions must pass through multiple department approvals, layers of management, and consensus with the executive team.
If an organization is to remain competitive and agile, barriers will need to be removed. You must evaluate the layers and identify the pinch points. Too many times, we tend to overthink a situation or a solution and nothing gets done. As mentioned in last month’s article, creative problem solving can be an effective way to cut through the tape. Use your team to help identify the issue and then empower them to do something about it.
While our teams are busy focusing on achieving results this month, let’s not allow complacency and slow-moving decisions prevent us from responding to outside threats and opportunities.
I hope this perspective helps you think critically and optimize the decision making process in your business so you can react more nimbly in 2025.
Until next time,
Bill Sumner
NASGW Chairman