The glory and peril of being the champ
When you’re packaged as a world class service provider and marketed as the best in the industry, the expectation to deliver gets tougher. It’s the dilemma of industry leaders. For every award won, a message of assurance to your patronizing public gets reinforced. This makes you prone to merciless criticism once you fall short of your service promise.
The challenger to the throne appears to be more aggressive. In his eyes, you’re occupying his coveted place and he will do everything to thwart you off your stature.
We’re in an age where we cannot simply rely on a strong brand name. While it is real bliss when the company you work for gets cited amongst the most trusted brands, this can summon competitors’ resolve to prove otherwise. Strong branding gives you an edge but as organizations do an inventory of their employees’ individual contributions, they will only look at what each is doing as a force that either enhances or shatters the service reputation.
We’re also in such a results-driven culture where aside from measuring output against rivals’ performance, companies are also measuring it against their own lofty revenue targets. And when they fall short, an internal alarm signals them to do more to buoy up productivity. Standards can never be relaxed. The agenda of the competitors is to topple the champ off the pedestal. While they see the dominant one as Goliath, they may see the challenger as the underdog David. While they see one as the seasoned champ, they may see the contender as the one with sexier alternatives. While they revere an esteemed institution, the consumer may refer to the nemesis as the more exciting new kids on the block.
Bringing on-board fresh talents is a welcome move that gives the corporate DNA new blood and an upbeat chromosome to make wares fresh and exciting. Let us not fall within the entrapments of being number one on a stagnant plateau. Let’s keep the culture thriving and evergreen by being on guard with the telltale signs.
It’s true. The acid tests and ruthless bouts in cutthroat rivalries have constantly become the impetus for meaningful change.
