Finding growth in a constrained market

There's no doubt, now is a difficult time to be a CEO. A really difficult time.

We've been through the crisis that was COVID and we've realised the 'new normal' is just as confronting, perhaps more so. The pace of change is greater than ever before and we have a harsh fiscal reality that includes costs rising unsustainably, wage growth, rampant inflation, and sluggish economic growth not keeping pace with those rising costs. On top of that, increasing public and regulatory scrutiny means boards are becoming ever more risk averse.

When times get tough, it's instinct to shut down and play the defensive game – cut costs, reduce headcount, postpone projects, and stick to core business. But there's no growth in that, only survival at best and decline at worst.