Guest blog: How can brands stand apart in a world that never stands still? – Supercurious

In a world that’s moving faster than ever, it’s now harder than ever for brands to breakthrough. With business leaders facing unprecedented challenges, our experience has highlighted some simple ways to move forward…and it starts with curiosity.

 1. Ask more questions. Question the answers.

In times of volatility and uncertainty, no-one has the answers. Leaders must find new solutions to overcome new challenges. Asking questions is not just a way of understanding the world, it is a way of changing it. By asking better questions and questioning the answers, brands can break conventional thinking, challenge the status quo, and explore new paths and ways forward. Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. Asking better questions often leads to better outcomes.

2. Create a highly motivating Purpose.

It doesn’t matter if you run a big or small company, in today’s world, having a purpose is everything. A purpose is an enduring aspiration that articulates why the company exists, what it stands for, what it believes in, and where it’s heading. In the face of business and social change, Purpose creates meaning, clarity and alignment and is the foundation for all decision making.

3. Keep moving forward.

Motion creates momentum. Dream Big. Take small steps. Leaders create their own reality. They fail fast, learn fast and fix fast. Replace annual plans with 100 – Day Plans and overnight delivery. The speed of life and business is unprecedented. Speed matters, you must play a fast game.

4. Innovate with Blue Ocean thinking.
Eliminate, Raise, Reduce, Create. Blue Ocean thinking focuses on the big picture, reaches beyond existing demand, reduces cost, and creates value. Blue Ocean leaders create an uncontested market space, make the competition irrelevant and create new demand. Look to adopt a Blue Ocean strategy bi-annually.

5. Invent a brand language
Great brands have their own language, a system of meaning that drives differentiation and unity. Using common and distinct language that employs mottos, mantras and metaphors helps businesses stand out and stand apart.

And finally…
Never give up!

About Jamie Wilson

Jamie is the Founder and Director of Supercurious (formerly Coordinate), a creative communications agency based in Canberra. In 2019, the agency was recognised as the ACT Telstra Business of the Year.

You can check out Supercurious’ website here.