Time to Pivot? 5 Ways Independent Professionals Can Help You Succeed

“Pivot” recently joined the business lexicon to define the place where many companies arrive at some point in the growth cycle. The term refers to a significant and structured change to a strategically important part of the enterprise. A pivot may happen in response to changing market conditions, customer feedback, product performance, or any perceived need for course correction.

Recognition that a pivot is called for often takes time and is the result of multiple factors. Once the need is recognized, though, it’s important to move forward intentionally and efficiently, and your independent talent pool can be an invaluable asset in the endeavor.  They can contribute across a range of roles and deliverables either in a consultative function or as full-on team members.

Places Where Independents Can Help Your Pivot Work

Thorough preparation and good follow-through are essential for a successful pivot. Your independent talent pool—professionals who have work with your enterprise and are “known quantities”—can comprise the resources you need to create the path forward and test the waters before your new direction is unveiled to stakeholders.

Here are five areas where independents can help you prepare, roll out, and adjust your new course.

Setting the New Strategy

Independent professionals with experience in multiple companies and industries can bring novel insights to the design of the new direction. Tap change management experts for help with creating the strategy and plan and engage experienced program managers to set up the plan.

Research and Data Gathering

Information gathering and analysis need to be ongoing. You may need to take the pulse of your customers or employees (or both) about the anticipated pivot as well as check in as the plan rolls out. Independent talent can perform these activities from the beginning and throughout the entire pivot. Further, they can analyze the data they gather and report their findings.

Standing Up New Technologies

The pivot may need to be accompanied by a shift in the technology infrastructure. Independents with the right technology skills can help implement systems and applications that are part of the pivot, as well as train workers in their use. Deploying a team of independents for this tech initiative can take pressure off your current tech workforce.

Testing New Roles and Skillsets

Put independent professionals into new roles identified during pivot planning. In addition to bringing needed skillsets and experience in similar roles, they can work with you to adjust and refine your workforce plans.

Communicating to Your Audiences

Communication is an important element in a pivot. Employees and other internal stakeholders must be on board with what’s coming and what they can expect during the change. Customers and investors likewise must know about the coming shift and how it might affect them. Independents can help formulate, launch, and track a communication strategy focused on the pivot. They can also report what kind of response the company is receiving from the communications to management so that they can take it into account.