GLOBALIZATION:

What to Do Next?

John CarrollFounder & CEO

Email: john@trescoach.comWeb: http://www.trescoach.com

Twitter: @TresCoachLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/trescoach

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Globalization: What to Do Next?

In the final installment of the Globalization: America’s Leadership Challenge Ahead article series we will focus on several of the major action steps to help you improve your business performance and prepare for greater success in the rapidly changing global economy.

Whether your future plans call for global expansion or not, here are some things to consider to help improve your company’s competitive position in the ‘New World’ economy:

1.     “Find the Light Switch”. Figure out what you need to do to improve business performance and more effectively manage complexity and change. What’s missing today, and what is needed to fortify your business against increasing global competition?

2.     Turn fear and complacency into action. Find a way to remove the barriers to growth that have prevented you from taking action to advance your business profile in the past, and then convert those new action plans into sustainable programs and results.

3.     Do your research and planning upfront. Know your real business – i.e. brand identity vs. how you make money (they could be different) and your true competition. Fine tune your strategy, marketing, products and services portfolio, pricing, etc. to meet diverse customer needs, market by market.

4.     Focus your future business on value creation. Value creation doesn't necessarily mean inventing something new; however, it does require exploring creative and expansive ways to consistently deliver quality products and services customers demand.

If you are seriously considering taking your business global in the next 12-18 months here are additional resources that should help with the initial preparation and planning …

Competitive Alternatives 2012: KPMG’s latest study on international business costs. http://www.competitivealternatives.com/

Doing Business 2012: Ranks the ease of doing business in 183 economies around the world. http://www.doingbusiness.org/

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: A study of entrepreneurial activity around the globe. http://www.gemconsortium.org/

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Transparency International: Resources on international regions subject to corruption. http://www.transparency.org/

U.S. Commercial Service: Global business information for exporters and importers. http://export.gov/

U.S. Department of State: Information for U.S. companies doing business abroad. http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/cba/

The two articles below will provide some final considerations to further enhance your international planning efforts.

1.     Getting International Business http://bit.ly/eMcAKL

2.     Need to Cut Through Complexity and Just Get Things Done? http://bit.ly/fiqRvP

The combined resources above should give you a better overall understanding of the complexity and challenges associated with globalizing your business, and where to target your efforts.

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept responsibility for changing them.” – Denis Waitley

Mr. Waitley’s quote is very appropriate for closing out the Globalization: America’s Leadership Challenge Ahead article series. As business leaders, the responsibility for change rests with each of us. Overcoming the obstacles to growth that are ahead and restoring the U.S. to greatness on the global stage is a leadership challenge we must all embrace.

Let’s work together to keep the U.S. atop the leadership board in the global business rankings, and help build a better America for all in the process.

COPYRIGHT © 2011-12 John Carroll

About the Author: John Carroll is the founder and CEO of Tres Coaching Services™, a business & leadership coaching, consulting and training services company located in Keller, TX. During his 30-year professional career, John held Director, Vice President and COO positions within Fortune 100, mid-size and emerging companies, leading high-performing business divisions that generated more than $1 billion in revenue.

John is also the author of Globalization: America’s Leadership Challenge Ahead and works extensively with both entrepreneurs and small business owners to help them maximize business performance, and “achieve the results to move beyond their vision”.

For more information please visit http://www.trescoach.com or follow John or Tres Coaching Services™ on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and SlideShare.

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