The business challenge

Business challenges can appear to be impossible. Finding out which part of it is really impossible and which can be achieved can lead to a more constructive discussion with the demanding party

The Client, a Managing Director within an industrial group, was faced with an “impossible” challenge in terms of meeting cost/profit expectations
. The first discussions with the Client were to understand if the objective was really crazy or if he just did not feel comfortable on how to do it. In this case the challenge was difficult, but not impossible. 
It was key to help the Client find a vision, then an objective in which he could believe, prior to having his team involved. Approaching a major task without one’s own internal conviction is risky. After that it is important to discuss the best option; communicate and manage expectations with the top; find the right help to get it done; and at the end, understand how to make it stick.
 
In this case, the approach worked out well with the stakeholders, unions included.
 This journey gave the Client not only the support to find the right solution, but also the personal development to make him feel comfortable about the future.