Just do it!. Is timing important?

“Time is what we want most,but what we use worst.” ~William Penn

A friend of mine used to say that all is about timing. But what it means? Where from entrepreneur or manager will now that timing is right?

Every business decision is complicated process which involves cold analysis and intuition. Mix and weight between analysis and intuition depends on organization culture, manager personality and circumstances  We are just starting to understand mechanisms of taking decisions by individuals. Corporations for many years has built systems to eliminate possibility to take bad decisions, but recent years are showing that still there is a lot of to do on this field.

The common truth in management is that it is better to take any decision than not take one. On the other hand in modern, information oriented business environment, complexity is making a decision process more and more unpredictable. Classic business models techniques need to adapt to dynamics of the markets and easy access to informations by customers. There we have some kind of paradox. Although markets due to cheap and easy access to information are more and more effective, the decision taking process is more and more difficult and complex.

The right timing of taking decision is even more difficult to estimate. Sometimes market and customers are simply not ready for new product or service. Sometimes innovative initial idea cause lack of innovation and development in upcoming years. If we assume that there is almost impossible to tell what is “right timing” is it worth to worry about this?

My answer is yes and no. Yes, as managers we must analyse all available data, consider all for and against. On the other hand, if we have internal feeling that we are doing right thing, do not wait – simply take decision and stick with it. Taking and accepting risk is integral part of decision taking process. Point is that risk must be quantified, agreed and accepted. When this exercise is done properly, then answer is no. Timing is no important as potential risk of not taking decision is much bigger than taking right decision in a wrong time. Taking a decision, even if timing is not perfect (because there is no such a thing like perfect timing) keep momentum in organization, keep buzz and excitement.

So what is my advice if we are unsure if timing is right? Do not bother about this. Just do it!

Related articles:

Timing is Everything by Nicholle L. Torres

Timing in Business: Get your timing right and choose the correct cut-off and cut-in points by Edward de Bono

 

Creativity – Key Factor for Successful Business

Business has to exercise your creative instincts. ~Richard Branson

For centuries creativity was attribute of artists. In last 30 years importance of creativity in a context of business activities increased dramatically. Today creativity is highly required skill not only in marketing department but also in engineering or finance professions. Mentioning creativity in finances I do not mean a Tyco or Enron way of “being creative in finance”.

Today we are knowing, that creativity is rather skill not a gift. Modern theories of creativity are trying to  find and answer to question “Why some people are more creative than others?”. These theories are describing creativity as process. Well, and who better than managers know how to manage, improve and re-engineer processes?

To understand how to support creativity, still rare asset in many companies, let’s have a look what conditions are favourable to allow creativity grow.

One of the myths is telling that people are creative working under stress. The truth is that there is direct relation between emotions and creativity. Positive emotions increasing creativity while negative ones decreasing. What it means for us? Well, we can create an organisation culture which is based on positives, not negatives. Promoting working environment full of positive emotions we get creativity as a bonus. More over, such organisations naturally attracting better workers. It is proven, that people who are realistic optimists are performing much better than pessimists.

Second thing which we as managers can do to support creativity in our organisation is to support cultural variety. This is natural catalyst for creativity. Different people are looking at the same problem from different perspective. It starts creative thinking process in other member of the team.

The next step after employing creative people, support creative environment is to make sure that organisation is able to manage creative teams. To be successful in this tasks organisations must understand benefits from being creative. Among many others I will mention two biggest benefits for every organisation. First of all creative approach (in every aspects of business activities) helps differentiate. Next benefit for promoting creative behavior can be treated like insurance against unexpected. When the crisis situation come (which is only question of time) creative teams will find better ways how to manage crisis.  This will make every organisation stronger – people will believe that what ever future will bring, they have a creative skill to manage this.

Recipe for success will be to integrate creativity in your business models. Create conditions conducive for creativity. Once it is done, you will never regret. Because creativity is a key factor for successful business; and we are all creative.

Related articles:

Getting Down to the Business of Creativity by Julia Hanna

The 6 Myths Of Creativity by Bill Breen

The Role Of Creativity In Business  by Nick Rice

6 Steps to Achieving Creativity in Business, Personal Life by Deborah Kotz