“Breaking the Rules to Build a Better Future: Insights from the PFS Leadership Event”
How often do we follow rules that no longer serve us? Are we stuck in outdated systems that stifle progress? These were the critical questions raised at a recent PFS event in Jersey, where two exceptional speakers shared their insights on leadership and business efficiency.
The event featured Douglas Kruger, Hall of Fame speaker and author of ten business books, including *Own Your Industry* and *They’re Your Rules, Break Them!*, and Paul Murphy, CEO of Jersey Business, with over 30 years of leadership experience across multiple industries. Both highlighted the need for businesses in Jersey to rethink how they operate, especially in a world where the pace of change demands adaptability and creativity.
Douglas Kruger: Why Smart Leaders Break the Rules
Douglas Kruger urged leaders to reconsider the “rules” they follow—rules often picked up in school or absorbed through company policies, practices, and outdated procedures. He highlighted that many business operations are bogged down by unnecessary bureaucracy. Kruger’s key message was to challenge these rigid frameworks and question if they are genuinely serving your organization’s mission. He asked leaders to consider: Do these rules add value, or are they merely a burden?
Kruger illustrated how successful innovation comes from looking outside of your own industry for inspiration. Using the example of Formula 1 pit crews, he showed how businesses could adopt the best practices from other fields to streamline their processes and enhance efficiency. However, he was careful to stress that breaking rules should never mean ignoring important guidelines, especially those concerning safety. Referencing the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Kruger pointed out the catastrophic consequences of disregarding regulations designed to protect lives. The difference, he argued, lies in knowing when a rule is stifling innovation versus when it ensures accountability and safety.
Paul Murphy: Productivity Through People, Process, and Strategy
Following Kruger, Paul Murphy shared data from his role at Jersey Business, revealing crucial insights into the local business environment. With 8,300 organizations in Jersey, 89% of which employ fewer than nine people, it’s clear that most businesses here operate with small, close-knit teams. Murphy emphasized that this is actually a competitive advantage. According to research, teams of around seven people are the most efficient in terms of communication, coordination, and collaboration.
However, there is a flip side: 25% of employees feel their time is unproductive, and 68% believe their organization is wasting resources. Many businesses lack formal business strategies, missions, or written objectives, which results in wasted potential. Murphy’s call to action was simple: focus on people, process, and technology—in that order. He stressed the importance of empowering people first, before improving processes and investing in technology. This ensures that every layer of the organization is aligned and moving toward the same goals.
Jersey’s Opportunity for Growth
The irony is that with so many small businesses, Jersey’s economy is ideally suited to be incredibly efficient and innovative. With fewer bureaucratic layers to navigate, local businesses can focus on improving productivity by making small but impactful changes. Both Kruger and Murphy urged organizations to see productivity not as a race to do more with fewer resources (potentially leaving to burn-out or failure), but as an opportunity to innovate, add value, and focus on long-term profitability.
For many of the small businesses in Jersey, this could be as simple as reviewing current procedures to identify outdated practices that are holding back progress. By fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability, businesses can enhance their offerings and better meet the needs of their customers.
For me, the event highlighted the growing role of coaching, consulting, and project management in helping businesses drive change. Short-term interventions can facilitate the shifts necessary to streamline operations and reimagine how teams function, setting the stage for sustainable growth.
Conclusion: Time to Rethink the Rules
The PFS event was a powerful reminder for leaders in Jersey—and indeed, in small jurisdictions everywhere—that the key to future success lies in challenging the status quo. Whether it’s cutting unnecessary procedures or rethinking strategies, businesses must embrace innovation to remain competitive. By focusing on people, leveraging best practices, and being willing to break the rules when necessary, Jersey’s businesses are well-positioned to thrive in an ever-changing world.
The key takeaway? Focus on people, processes, and technology and breaking the rules that no longer serve you, potentially using short-term facilitation, coaching, consulting, and project management as a catalyst for change.
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