Can you make it happen? That is a question that every one should ask and answer yes! We all can.
Recently when working with a client we had to do that. The teams became stalled due to a business announcement around cost cutting. Suddenly the teams did not know what they should do or work on. Everything they do have associated costs. In this situation we applied a simple rule; make a decision, make a plan, make it happen. The point was to help the teams refocus on what was important.
In business, the first part of making some thing happen is to make a decision. This is not always easy. Sometimes you just have to do the best with what you have at that point in time. This means considering all the relevant facts, removing your emotional response, and gauging the impact.
The second thing we need to do is make a plan. A decision without an actionable plan does not go anywhere. Consider all the items that need to be completed; the key elements of work that must be done in order to move forward. Capture your decision assumptions and constraints to ensure that you do not proceed blindly. Never front load your plan but balance it out with other demands in your business environment.
Third, make it happen. It is far too easy to get side tracked in business with the happenings at the time. There are many decisions made externally that will impact your abilities to move forward and there are many other things demand our time. Focus with actionable intents on items that will have impact and make a difference in your business. To do so, you and your teams must be clear on what it is they are seeking to accomplish. Clarity of focus and direction is a big part on making things happens.
When things are not moving forward the way you like it might be that you and your teams need to step back, just for a moment, and consider what is going on. This may mean to refocus and make a decision, make a plan, and make it happen.
Question: What questions to you ask to make better business decisions and move things forward?
