Now is the time for strong business leaders who recognize the value of productivity to step up
Alberta business leaders have no choice but to get more productive in today’s economic climate, but finding efficiencies presents a challenge for any business leader. Increasing productivity may require tough changes to staffing, procedure and practices.
Running the same operation, but with fewer staff and resources is a major challenge, but the businesses that survive, and even thrive, under challenging circumstances are the ones with exceptional leadership. Alberta needs leaders who understand and value productivity at all levels of their companies. Such individuals will ensure that their businesses can weather the tough economic climate, rebuild, and be ready to come out on top when the economy picks up again.
There is room for improvement when it comes to building productive Alberta companies. Productivity in Canada has been declining since the early ’90s and Canada is currently ranked eighth when compared to 17 other industrialized nations. Alberta is Canada’s third largest manufacturing province, but has the lowest productivity growth rate in the country.
It’s time for business leaders to step up to the challenge. Increasing business productivity is a tough task, but the good news is that many businesses in Alberta already incorporate leading strategies in productivity. Though strategies to achieve enhanced productivity differ, the men and women running Alberta’s most productive businesses are committed to lean production and to working smarter, faster and better, as part of their overall strategies. These men and women are writing their own productivity success stories, stories which prove that the right plan and strong leadership can create a made-in-Alberta solution where increased productivity addresses mounting global competition.
