RSA Group Reflections February 2024
Dear friends
What do we do when the world around us feels like it’s in a state of perpetual chaos? How should we think about business, and our personal roles and responsibilities with an organisation?
Across the world, a lot of people are asking such questions right now. To my mind, one of the most important answers is disarmingly simple:
Structure.
As anyone who has raised children knows, structure deals with much of the chaos of parenthood. Children always seem to rise best to the challenges of life when they are able to follow a clear, repeatable routine with respect to homework, diet, screen time, etc. We may not think about it too much in this way, but we adults are actually very similar, and especially so when it comes to work. Following repeatable, predictable structures allows us to get the crucial basics right, day after day, and strong baseline performance of the essentials quickly becomes a habit that our colleagues and partners rely on.
In business, discipline unquestionably makes life easier. Think of the iPhone, for example. A highly predictable product with a clear set of quality standards, that stands far apart from the chaotic crowd. Or Google, or Coca Cola, or Toyota. The world’s heavy hitting brands are all known, and often much loved, for their rock solid consistency in all types or circumstances and contexts.
There’s no doubt that in the South African fresh produce industry, uncertainty abounds. Mixed messages are regularly sent with respect to the fresh produce value chain. A lot of the time it feels like important issues are raised in isolation, without full recognition of the strength of national food security or the great quality, on average, of the fresh produce South Africans enjoy daily access to. And then, of course, there are also many national concerns about the state of infrastructure, South Africa’ vulnerable currency and the ongoing challenge of soaring unemployment levels – to name just a few.
“Consistency is an underappreciated form of intentional magic disguised as a mundane doing.”
– Victoria Erickson
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this consistency – which we have exemplified for over forty years now – is one of the major reasons why so many producers value their partnership with RSA Group so highly. I believe it’s our ability on this vital frontline that allows us to keep on delivering on our value proposition and ensuring that we offer South Africa’s farmers the kind of business value they need.
Let’s never lose sight of the power of our consistency – as a business, and as individuals within the business – in helping our partners continue to thrive in a world of swirling, ever-increasing change.
Best wishes
Jaco Oosthuizen