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

 

Be Idealist. It Makes Life Easier.

What a man can be, he must be. ~Abraham Maslov

Douglas R. Conant in his article “The Power of Idealistic-Realism: How Great Leaders Inspire and Transform” is proclaiming, that that idealism and realism are the two leadership attributes that truly inspire and mobilize people.  I want to focus on the first part of this duo – Idealism.

The roots of the word idealism comes via idea from the Greek idein (ἰδεῖν), meaning “to see”.  What leaders must “to see”? The core purpose of leadership is to see and explore potential in every member of the team. So this is the first thing to see. Potential of your people.

Idealism is giving people deeper motivation to work. I think that the source of this deeper motivation is self-actualization achieved by finding a higher idea. “What a man can be, he must be”. Work with a greater idea makes leader life easier. First, it help to communicate the vision of the company. Secondly great ideas appeal great people. That is why John Sculley become Apple’s CEO. Because he has a chance to change the world, not only to sell sugared water.

Idealism can also help to see new opportunities. If you know what is your vision, your senses and business instinct are naturally focused on all new potential of growing business. It helps also to take strategic decisions what company do (or what not to do).

Idealism keep higher ethic standards in every organisation. Idealist does not cheat. He is focused on fulfilling his own mission. By this action he is creating value for organisation. This is next meaning of leadership – creating values by self-actualization organisation members. Above all, every good creation – artistic, business – is about creating something that you are proud of.

Idealism helps to keep open and honest communication. Internal and external ones. It is like a needle of the compass pointing the right direction.

But idealism can be (in some cases) also danger to organisation. If it change to so call idealism trap. When idea itself is consuming more efforts than bringing results it is possible, that idea instead of being “Great Idea” is only a way to cover incompetence, laziness and other common company disease. A true values must stand behind every vision. It must not be only a PR slogan. To fulfill the idea with values, among other factors, company need people who want, not must. Which a realistic optimists. Which “can see” and act. Which love what they are doing. I believe, that idealists will change the our world for better place.

7 Managerial Sins

Below you will find my variation for a subject of managerial sins.

1. Lack of courage.

Courage is the first of the human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others.
~Winston Churchill

Courage attract and inspire other people. It is building respect, trust and spirit in organisation. It affect all aspects in organisation. Great ideas, could be killed by lack of courage. Courage is a factor which helps to avoid rest of the sins mentioned below. Where is no courage, there is no leadership. Where is no leadership, there is no success.

Tip: If you see lack of courage in top management – look for another job.

2. Wishful thinking.

Great minds have purposes; others have wishes. ~Washington Irving

Ignoring facts, expecting impossible, waiting for miracles. These are typical symptoms of disease which I call “Wishful thinking”. Creative accountancy is a typical example of this sin (from controlling it become PR tool).  Ignoring facts, focusing on everything but not on a root of a problems, in a worse case creating virtual problems – all of this is lead sooner or later to a crisis.

Tip: Promote diversification open discussion and courage. It will not allow to spread this disease in your company.

3. Lack of honesty.

Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.  ~Mary Kay Ash

Honesty needs courage, maturity and integrity. These values are important in managing life and managing business. No meter if you are preparing new marketing campaign, have yearly evaluation meeting or have difficult discussion with your boss – be honest.

Tip: Focus on honesty during recruitment process. You will avoid many problems in the future.

4. Indecisiveness.

Indecision and delays are the parents of failure. ~George Canning 

One of the key attributes of manager. In fact, this is core of the manager’s job – to take decisions. It is paradox, that indecisiveness is very often hidden behind…. “extreme decisiveness” . We are all knowing this case. Decisions are taken on every subject (new font in corporate email, new menu in canteen, new wall colors in the office – name it by yourself) but not on solving the truth business problems. True decisions are postponed. One of the typical symptoms is micromanaging, expanded reporting, plenty of meetings – naming only few. All of this allowing indecisive decision makers to hide their indecisiveness.

Tip: Do not rush. Think about every aspect of decision which you are taking. Consult with others.  But focus on taking real decisions, which are moving business forward. Make a deadline for taking decision and stick with this.

5. Lack of communication.

Bad human communication leaves us less room to grow. ~Rowan D. Williams 

Very often, people who are talking about open and honest communication are the worse communicators. It is easy to be open with others when you are communicating good things. It is much more difficult when you have to announce bad or not popular it is much more difficult to stand the ground. True leader builds trust by communicating not by avoiding communication. Not telling anything or worse, not telling truth – demolish morale, impair trust in leadership and allow people to fulfill this communication gap with their own “truths”. Instead of focusing on hard work to go through crisis, people are focusing on guessing what boss is not telling.

Tip: If you do not know – simply ask. Challenge with a questions. There is nothing to lose.  There are no stupid questions. Only stupid answers. Or worse – lack of answers.

6. Not performing.

An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises. ~Mae West

You know this type of people. Hours are telling you what they will do, what should be done. They developed an incredible skill sets – to hide lack of performance behind circumstances and others faults. Very often these kind of people have very high EQ which allow them to be covered by other team members.

Tip: Set up very strict controlling mechanisms and regularly review performance members of your team. And if somebody is permanently under-performing have no scruples to get rid such individual.

7. Short term thinking.

Leadership is, among other things, the ability to inflict pain and get away with it – short-term pain for long-term gain. ~George Will 

It is easy to find a thousands reasons for short-term benefit against long-term value creation. Especially that one of the common techniques used by non-performances is to tell on how bright and successful future their are working on. If mission and vision of the company are not clearly defined and communicated (internally and externally) then it is very easy to be trapped in short-term thinking. Mission and vision of the company are the compass, which hold the company on proper course during difficult times.

Tip: Define and communicate mission and vision of the company. Then there will be no doubt to every member of the team what is right thing to do.

Conclusion

We are all sinners. We are only human beings. However good manager, should have a distance to his actions, behaviors and to his or her managerial sins. That is why to have a coach can help. Somebody can ring alarm bell very early to avoid deadly sinning.

What to do if you already have sinned? Accept your fault, apologise and ask for forgiveness. But more important – do not sin again.