![\"Key](\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Key-reasons-why-pushing-boundaries-is-essential-for-growth_24669e25.jpg?w=1024&h=474&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere are three big reasons why every employee and business needs to push boundaries in today\u2019s economy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Technology-driven disruption is changing the marketplace<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTechnology-driven disruption is changing the marketplace and many traditional industries are struggling to keep up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 2021 McKinsey survey found that 57% of businesses have adopted AI in some form<\/a>. And of those adoptees, 47% are using AI for some form of data analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe global digital transformation<\/a> market is expected to grow to $1,009.8 billion by 2025 from $469.8 billion in 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThose that have been the most successful typically fall into a few categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Those willing to push their own boundaries<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Early adopters and innovators<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The early majority of technology adopters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, some businesses fail to recognize when \u201cthe writing is on the wall\u201d and can\u2019t keep up with the rising tide of innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One oft-touted example was when Amazon disrupted the offline retail world, which caused many existing industry leaders to fail completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 represents another example, which forced many businesses to adapt or fall by the wayside \u2013 unsurprisingly, the most successful were those who were willing to rethink existing business models and practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. New business methods are changing the workplace<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAgile and lean business practices have become quite common in recent years since they are more suited to the digital-first world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While many employees and businesses have embraced these new business practices, others have not. After all, they do represent change and change is uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agile organizations, for instance, are built around principles such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Collaboration<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Customer-driven service design<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Responsiveness and flexibility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In short, for many workers, these new modes of thinking require pushing beyond boundaries and enduring the discomfort that may come with that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Pushing boundaries drives innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSometimes it\u2019s necessary to push boundaries in order to really innovate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you never push the boundaries, then you\u2019re never going to come up with anything truly innovative, because you\u2019re going to be too scared to break away from the status quo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of today\u2019s biggest tech companies\u2014 such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon\u2014 are examples of companies that have been willing to step outside the status quo in order to innovate and create new forms of value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strategies to help you push your business\u2019s boundaries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Strategies](\"https:\/\/www.walkme.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Strategies-to-help-you-push-your-businesss-boundaries_53669e25.jpg?w=1024&h=551&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere are a few ways you can push your organization beyond its own boundaries and stay relevant in the post-COVID next normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. People: rethink attitudes towards change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen change comes, some people embrace it and some people resist it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resistance to change can come in many forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Some people fear that they will lose their jobs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some fear that they will be overwhelmed by new technology\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some don\u2019t feel like they have the proper training<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some are just afraid of the unknown<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, when asked to push beyond boundaries, it should come as no surprise that many employees resist change and cling to the status quo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help employees surpass these often unnecessary limitations, employers can take several strategies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Implement employee training programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hire employees who are creative and innovative<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cultivate a culture that is open to learning<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Invite participation from employees during organizational changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The best approach is to assess one\u2019s own organization, employees\u2019 attitudes, and their fears, then develop a communication strategy based on that approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Processes: redefine business models<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBusiness models should be redefined for the new economy. The future of business depends on how quickly you can adapt to change and how well you can shift from one business model to another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned above, for instance, organizational agility is key to staying successful in the digital era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is important to note, however, that organizational agility depends on other factors, such as workforce agility, business practices, and organizational culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to cultivating a culture of learning, as mentioned above, it is important to complement that shift with more modern business practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Agile product development and management<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lean thinking<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hybrid product development<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Rapid product innovation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These types of business practices, it should be noted, must go hand-in-hand with new business strategies and, as mentioned, new ways of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Technology: adopt and innovate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAdapting to new technology and innovating is the only way to stay relevant in any industry, including \u201ctraditional\u201d industries such as manufacturing, energy, and agriculture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a few reasons why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Digital disruption is fueling massive productivity gains in every sector<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Organizations that adapt early become leaders<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- To engage with business partners and the economy, technology adoption is a must<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Also, and perhaps most importantly, customer sentiment shifts minute by minute \u2013 and those attitude changes often follow in tandem with technology-driven innovations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Organizations willing to adopt new technology early on, therefore, stand a better chance of keeping up with these shifts and leaving their competitors behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pushing boundaries: Embracing change as the new constant in business<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe drive to push boundaries is not just a desirable attribute but a necessary strategy for businesses aiming to thrive in an ever-changing, technology-driven world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we\u2019ve explored, it\u2019s necessary to innovate, adapt agile methodologies, and leverage technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t only about staying relevant \u2013 it\u2019s about being a leader in your field. The examples of industry giants like Google, Amazon, and Facebook demonstrate that stepping beyond the comfort zone is where true innovation and market leadership are forged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In essence, pushing boundaries means more than just adopting new technologies or business transformation<\/a>; it\u2019s about cultivating a mindset of continual growth, learning, and adaptation among your people. It\u2019s about transforming the fear of the unknown into the excitement for what\u2019s possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The global digital transformation<\/a> market is expected to grow to $1,009.8 billion by 2025 from $469.8 billion in 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those that have been the most successful typically fall into a few categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, some businesses fail to recognize when \u201cthe writing is on the wall\u201d and can\u2019t keep up with the rising tide of innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One oft-touted example was when Amazon disrupted the offline retail world, which caused many existing industry leaders to fail completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID-19 represents another example, which forced many businesses to adapt or fall by the wayside \u2013 unsurprisingly, the most successful were those who were willing to rethink existing business models and practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Agile and lean business practices have become quite common in recent years since they are more suited to the digital-first world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While many employees and businesses have embraced these new business practices, others have not. After all, they do represent change and change is uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Agile organizations, for instance, are built around principles such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, for many workers, these new modes of thinking require pushing beyond boundaries and enduring the discomfort that may come with that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes it\u2019s necessary to push boundaries in order to really innovate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you never push the boundaries, then you\u2019re never going to come up with anything truly innovative, because you\u2019re going to be too scared to break away from the status quo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of today\u2019s biggest tech companies\u2014 such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon\u2014 are examples of companies that have been willing to step outside the status quo in order to innovate and create new forms of value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few ways you can push your organization beyond its own boundaries and stay relevant in the post-COVID next normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When change comes, some people embrace it and some people resist it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance to change can come in many forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, when asked to push beyond boundaries, it should come as no surprise that many employees resist change and cling to the status quo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help employees surpass these often unnecessary limitations, employers can take several strategies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best approach is to assess one\u2019s own organization, employees\u2019 attitudes, and their fears, then develop a communication strategy based on that approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Business models should be redefined for the new economy. The future of business depends on how quickly you can adapt to change and how well you can shift from one business model to another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned above, for instance, organizational agility is key to staying successful in the digital era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is important to note, however, that organizational agility depends on other factors, such as workforce agility, business practices, and organizational culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to cultivating a culture of learning, as mentioned above, it is important to complement that shift with more modern business practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These types of business practices, it should be noted, must go hand-in-hand with new business strategies and, as mentioned, new ways of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adapting to new technology and innovating is the only way to stay relevant in any industry, including \u201ctraditional\u201d industries such as manufacturing, energy, and agriculture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few reasons why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, and perhaps most importantly, customer sentiment shifts minute by minute \u2013 and those attitude changes often follow in tandem with technology-driven innovations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizations willing to adopt new technology early on, therefore, stand a better chance of keeping up with these shifts and leaving their competitors behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drive to push boundaries is not just a desirable attribute but a necessary strategy for businesses aiming to thrive in an ever-changing, technology-driven world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we\u2019ve explored, it\u2019s necessary to innovate, adapt agile methodologies, and leverage technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t only about staying relevant \u2013 it\u2019s about being a leader in your field. The examples of industry giants like Google, Amazon, and Facebook demonstrate that stepping beyond the comfort zone is where true innovation and market leadership are forged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In essence, pushing boundaries means more than just adopting new technologies or business transformation<\/a>; it\u2019s about cultivating a mindset of continual growth, learning, and adaptation among your people. It\u2019s about transforming the fear of the unknown into the excitement for what\u2019s possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
2. New business methods are changing the workplace<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
3. Pushing boundaries drives innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Strategies to help you push your business\u2019s boundaries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. People: rethink attitudes towards change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
2. Processes: redefine business models<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
3. Technology: adopt and innovate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Pushing boundaries: Embracing change as the new constant in business<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n