We had a listen back to a Company Doctor podcast from April 2022 where Gary Gamp spoke to the brilliant Jean-Yves Charlier about being a business disruptor. It’s got us thinking about how becoming a disruptor is a powerful strategy for achieving growth and success. It’s not just about being trendy; it’s about making a real impact. Read on to find out Jean-Yves’ best advice for business disruptors and why he believes that people and culture are key to its success.
What is a business disruptor?
In its simplest terms, a business disruptor is someone, or a company, who thinks differently to others, according to the Oxford Dictionary, it’s “a company that changes the traditional way an industry operates, especially in a new and effective way”.
According to Chat GPT, a business disruptor is:
“An individual, organisation, or entity that introduces significant and often ground-breaking changes, innovations, or strategies into an industry or market. These changes challenge and reshape traditional business models, practices, and norms, ultimately transforming the industry landscape. Business disruptors are known for their ability to create new opportunities, redefine customer experiences, and alter the competitive landscape.”
That’s a great description, right?
So, to give you some ideas of companies who are disruptors, think about the Teslas, Ubers and AirBnBs of this world. Companies who are not just about a growth story, but also about a sector transformation story.
And it’s not as simple as that. Disruptive innovation is about creating new products or services that challenge the existing ones, but it also requires the innovators to keep adapting to the changing market needs and preferences, or they may be disrupted by others. Those very examples of Uber and Tesla and their disruption of the taxi and automobile industries are now facing competition from other disruptors and challenges in their operations and reputation.
Business disruptors take big bold moves that create sustainable value, and they do it with urgency. Not necessarily just for the business itself, but for the wider market too; for the greater good, whether that is for people, the planet or something else.
Putting people at the centre of change
Jean-Yves advocates passionately that business disruptors must put people at the heart of any transformation, consolidation, or change. It’s all about the leader making this transformation being super hands-on and delivering a personal message. No investment bankers swooping in and delivering a watered-down vision for the future company. It’s about delivering strong trust, clear vision and a sturdy game plan.
Jean-Yves believes you’ve got to get a great support team around you. You need them to help you sell the vision with you. Get out and meet everyone – deliver roadshows to bring people on the journey with you, to show logic and answer the questions people will inevitably have.
In the podcast, Jean-Yves spoke about how in one company he was looking to transform, he spent six months working in the store every Saturday, learning about the products, the customers and, most importantly, the people working inside the business. It gave him valuable insights on which to base his vision and his game plan.
Disruption is key to staying ahead of the game.
How do you stop being yesterday’s news? How do you stay on top of your game? Jean-Yves believes the best way is to be disruptive. That might mean quite ruthless transformation in a company through consolidation or enormous change, but if you bring your people along with you, it can be successful.
Disruption causes friction and will bring battles against bureaucracy and management layers, but ultimately, those that win those battles will succeed. To think fresh, to think differently really means to be disruptive. You need to be up for breaking the rules and encourage those around you to break the rules too – and that includes challenging the person who’s leading the change.
Jean-Yves suggests three big takeaways for being a disruptive leader:
- Think big, think different.
- Have a super simple business model with a few things you do well – focus, focus, focus!
- Build a great culture and bring your people along for the ride – the best people will make the best company.
At Smart/tasking , we understand the importance of anticipating and adapting to the changing market conditions. We value creativity, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. One of our services, smart/hands, provides skilled and flexible talent to businesses that need extra support. We know how to integrate seamlessly with existing teams, especially when they are undergoing transformation. We are not just a temporary solution; we are a strategic partner.
Being a business disruptor means shaping the future with vision and courage. It requires staying ahead of the curve, fostering innovation, listening to feedback, taking care of your people, and embracing change. You can listen to the Company Doctor podcast here and check out What they don’t teach you at Harvard Business School by Mark McCormack, a must-read for any aspiring business leader.
