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The breakneck pace of technological change within the fleet maintenance industry is bringing with it new risks and opportunities.

The only constant

Feb. 3, 2017
Continuous readjustment is essential for future business success.

Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with saying: “Change is the only constant in life.” Talk about a factual statement.

Another accurate statement is that with any change, even one that is for the better, there is discomfort. Why? Because we humans are evolutionarily predisposed to resist change due to the risk associated with it.

It is well understood that organizations and people that do not embrace change will not thrive, and maybe not even survive. As Benjamin Franklin observed: “When you're finished changing, you're finished.”

An Upheaval

The fleet maintenance industry is undergoing an upheaval. As a consequence, we need to continue to transform, adjust to change, face critical issues head on and deal with a turbulent present. The breakneck pace of technological change is bringing with it new risks and opportunities.

The cover story in our November/December issue, The future of vehicle maintenance, looked at the central transformative and disruptive trends causing a metamorphosis within the fleet maintenance industry over the next five years. Our intent was to provide knowledge and sight about the consequences and possibilities being created by the accelerating pace of change, especially with regards to technology, so that our readers could apply this intelligence to better prepare for change.

Create It

While the future is always unpredictable, one thing is certain. For any organization to be successful, it must think about, and prepare for, the future. It was President Abraham Lincoln who said: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

The organizations that will grow and prosper are those that constantly and strategically review, revise and re-plan their businesses to steer them into the future. Organizations that do not do this aren’t likely to have one.

Future business success requires:

- Determining priorities and accountability.

- Being proactive with problem-solving to anticipate troubles and take positive steps to eliminate them.

- Developing well-reasoned plans to avoid having to just act in response to circumstances.

Moreover, management needs to encourage innovation and collaboration, plus maintain a management style that makes possible quick response to changed conditions, unplanned events and deviations from plans.

An additional must-do is to regularly measure and review performance and objective attainment, making changes when necessary. If performance can’t be gauged,

processes and procedures can’t be improved. If changes are made, there is no way to determine whether the adjustments were effective.

Inspiration

As our industry races into the unknown, here are some thoughts and observations to keep you motivated to deal with change by taking advantage of opportunities and eliminating problems by adequately regulating risks.

- When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals; adjust the action steps. Confucius, Chinese philosopher, teacher, political figure.

- Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. Henry Ford, American industrialist, founder of Ford Motor Company.

- If you don't like change, you will like irrelevance even less. General Eric Shinseki, retired U.S. Army general, former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

- Learn to adjust yourself to the conditions you have to endure, but make a point of trying to alter or correct conditions so that they are most favorable to you. William Frederick Book, psychology professor.

- What is not started today is never finished tomorrow. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman.

- The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance. Nathaniel Branden, author, psychotherapist.

- The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic. Peter Drucker, management consultant, author.

- It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change. Charles Darwin, English naturalist.

- Paralyze resistance with persistence. Woody Hayes, renowned football coach.

About the Author

David A. Kolman | Contributor - Fleet Maintenance

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