Unpredictability

“Madness” is the absolute perfect word to describe this March and this year’s NCAA tournament. No one could have predicted the upsets this tournament has caused. Most bracket predictions had Duke, Kansas, Pitt and Ohio State reaching the Final Four. All of these teams were the number one seed and all of them have been knocked out. Out of the 5.9 million people who submitted their brackets for ESPN.com’s Tournament Challenge only two people managed to pick that UConn (3), Kentucky (4), Butler (8) and VCU (11) would reach the Final Four.

This tournament has proven that anything can happen on any given day and not to underestimate the underdog. The same philosophy can be applied to organizations and businesses. There is always going to be competition between larger and smaller firms for business. While larger firms can be intimidating to go up against, it is important to remember that ‘larger’ doesn’t always mean ‘better’. What really matters is how a company handles itself in the face of unpredictability, whether it’s an unstable economy or uncertain clientele.

A solid marketing and communications plan can make a huge difference when it comes to raising awareness about a company; generating new business or doing damage control should any public relations crises arise. Learning to anticipate, or at the very least acknowledge, that the unpredictable could occur is a huge part of a company’s success.  While it’s fun to watch basketball teams scramble around on court for the win, it’s not a lifestyle that you want to employ in the workplace.