Strengthen Foundation for Execution “Excellence”
Every leader has the dream to excel, establish a presence in a competitive market and receive merits for achievements. But time and again, we see that many businesses fall apart, even if they have a good market presence or great sales record. I believe the main reason is because the foundation and strategy on which the company was built on were weak.
To explain further, many leaders rely on their personal feelings or instinct when it comes to making decisions. This may seem to work on a short-term basis, but in the long-run it is a disaster in the making. This then becomes a matter of time before the company fails to deliver on its mission and vision, and starts to leave a negative trail.
This has a bigger impact on the overall performance of the organization, as it affects the motivation and morale of the employees. Adding to this, this may lead to loss of good talent, while those who remain fail to put in their best efforts for the sake of the company.
Here are what I believe should be prioritized in order to secure business continuity and success:
Make a strategic plan to reduce execution failure
Before we are able to proceed with any form of execution, a leader should lay out a strategic plan. Many people misunderstand that this is a “to-do” list. But it is not. A strategic plan is a set of guidelines that helps leaders and followers make adjustments to an action plan and set priorities. Strategies are also meant to evolve as the business comes across new challenges and opportunities.
At Al Masaood, we have made this a priority. We understand that to keep with the times, we have to make the right choice - whether to make a disruption or be disrupted. A good example is when we launched Project Falcon, which marked the start of our digital transformation. We implemented this strategy across all our verticals to bring seamless convenience to the customer, while catering to our clients. Note that a business framework and future plans should never be left to guess work. This is among the biggest mistakes leaders tend to make.
Keep employees involved at all stages
There are many leaders that believe they should share information with their employees only when they feel it is necessary. And most of the time they are left in the dark. This is an outdated system where information is passed from the “boss” to the “employee”, giving them instructions on what to do. This is a wrong habit and one I believe this practice should not exist in modern business structures.
An employee should be part of the overall strategy and be given a platform where they can express their opinion and share feedback on a comfortable and open, two-way communication channel. It is important to note that channels of communication should be clear and open throughout an organization. Involving the team from strategy to execution helps employees to own the strategy, be accountable on its implementation, stay aligned with business goals, and also helps them perform better when interacting with customers on ground level.
At Al Masaood Automobiles, we are aware of the value our employees hold, which is why we consider them family. They are closely involved with the services we offer and understand the operations of a company far better than others. Rather than bring outsourced consultants, we know that our team are a far better suited to communicate our mission and vision, which has led to Al Masaood’s continued success.
Use the right measures to monitor performance
If employees are the pillar of an organization, customers form the heart of the entire business. At the end of the day, an organization exists to serve clients and cater to their needs with customized solutions and services. As part of this process, listening to the audience is an important factor and should be measured every step of the way.
This means a company should dedicate time and create opportunities to measure their level of satisfaction. Assign tools that can record loyalty and engagement with the business brand. Based on the results, a business is supposed to adjust their framework in order to achieve excellence.
Not too long ago, Al Masaood Automobiles was named “Voice of Customer” winner by Renault Middle East. This was made possible by our team that had successfully implemented innovative work effectively and efficiently to enhance customer experience. Similarly, Al Masaood received several accolades, which led to growth and increased market share for our partners and our brand.
In conclusion, structure is important to strengthen a business from within to be able to succeed on the outside. A solid framework helps an organization and its staff follow calculated strategies, minimize risks and promotes a healthy work environment. One should also keep in mind that employees are important stakeholders that form the core of what we do, how we do things for our customers.
About the author
Irfan Tansel: Global Citizen and CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles
With over 40 years of experience spanning across three continents, Irfan Tansel is recognized as ‘100 inspiring leaders in the Middle East’ by Arabian Business magazine and ‘CEO of the Year’ by CEO Magazine, and he is driven to disrupt the automotive industry and to create a legacy.
Irfan’s passion for automobiles began at the age of 15 when he apprenticed as an auto mechanic. Now an entrepreneurial and visionary leader, Irfan is credited for his unique approach to innovation, employee engagement, and more recently, succeeding in a challenging market. In 2019 and 2020, Al Masaood Automobiles gained global recognition for re-strategizing; creating an omnichannel experience to prepare for Industry 4.0. Al Masaood Automobiles launched the region’s first e-commerce car buying website with Nissan, and a virtual, live & interactive sales platform. 2019 was a record-breaking year with Al Masaood Automobiles selling more cars than ever before.
Under Irfan’s leadership, Al Masaood Automobiles have been awarded numerous accolades. In both 2013 and 2019, Al Masaood Automobiles won the coveted Nissan Global Award, recognizing their outstanding performance and contribution to Nissan’s business.
Renault’s prestigious Global Partners Award (P.A.R.I.S. Challenge), received in 2020, is the highest accolade for car dealerships granted for exceptional performance in customer satisfaction, and in Sales and Aftersales – tapping into new market segments, strengthening the brand, and expanding their portfolio. They reported a staggering double digit sales growth, outperforming other Renault dealers around the globe.
With an unrelenting desire to best serve his customers, Irfan believes that “the road to recognition is built upon a commitment to leave behind the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary”. His competitive nature drives his vision to revolutionise the industry and lead the transition into a future where disruption capitalizes innovation. After achieving his goals and reaching the peak of his career, he is determined to motivate tomorrow’s leaders by sharing his extensive knowledge in leadership.
When Irfan isn’t preparing for a future of disruption, as electric cars, connectivity, autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing come into play, you can find him spending time with his family and playing golf.
For media and keynote inquiries, please email his brand manager Jen at Jen@prestidgegroup.com or call +971 55 719 3601. DOWNLOAD IRFAN’S MEDIA KIT.
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