When you live in a private residence and there is a snowstorm, you have two options. You either go out to shovel away the snow so you are able to leave your home and drive your car, or you do not do anything and just wait until warm weather arrives. If you want results, which in this case are represented by a clear walkway and driveway, you must take action steps and have a behavior consistent with taking action.
So what do you feel when your business is not getting the results you expect? Do you have a long list of reasons and excuses? Do you cast blame on your team, employees or vendors? Or do you recognize that you may not have been taking the right action steps or creating a behavior consistent with the right action steps to take.
You might answer, “Well, I have always done business this way and it has always worked out just fine for us.” Here is the honest assessment of that answer – The world around all of us is in a mode of constant change. You must be willing and open to change, just to keep up. In order to grow and move ahead in dramatic fashion you need to be strategic about the change required. The direction or the end goal is the target point. Then we look at what action steps and behaviors are necessary in order to achieve the target point.
Once this is reviewed and agreed upon as being the right course of action toward the correct target, a review of your resources, training and funding is determined to be appropriate for this undertaking; or perhaps where more is required in one or more areas. For example, you might determine from this study that it is necessary to bolster your sales team or create a sales team for your business. The point here is not to fight change. Do not become complacent and assume the way you have always done things is good enough to get by in the future. Do not over complicate the answers. Often the reaction is to change too much and turn everything in the business upside down. This may not be necessary at all. Of course there will be occasions where turning everything in the business upside down is the answer. These processes must be taken with care as there is a lot at stake. Take the time and the opportunity to map out your strategy for moving forward. You will find it to be time and money well spent.
Mitch Tublin is an advanced certified personal and executive coach who lives in Stamford, CT.
Mitch – Those that just wait around for things to change nd “happen to them” may not like the results when they finally do happen … but those to take action to make their own results, often get to control (at least a little) the kinds of results they experience … and often it’s a much better outcome and success!
Jennifer,
We are getting the results based upon the actions we take.
Fear of change is a big one for people, but it is inevitable. You’ve given them the format for a structure to take it as slowly as they need to, but the point is they must take action- big or small. And if they need help, who better to turn to for a structure plan than you?
Jessica,
Action steps, big ones or small ones, scare many people.
My role is to support them and bolster their confidence,
I cannot carry them though. They must take the action.
Mitch – “Often the reaction is to change too much and turn everything in the business upside down.” I find this in my own work – people try to change EVERYTHING at once – which rarely works, and usually just gets them more overwhelmed. Taking the time to map out the strategy is, as you say, key here.
Terry,
The ‘turning it all upside down’ is actually an unconscious method
of stalling in taking the necessary action steps. Sooner or later, it will
come back to that same step which must be taken.
I so agree that misery comes from fighting change. Whether welcome or not, it’s a constant of life, right along with breathing. Good points, Mitch.
Sue,
Plus change can be fun too!
I agree Mitch – lets not fight change and become complacent!
Trudy,
Would you ever suggest someone eat the same exact menu items every single day for months at a time? Especially when their current diet needs to change?
Mitch,
I’m a big fan of the truth that “the only thing constant in life is change.” As soon as we realize this it’s much easier to embrace change and welcome new ways of doing business and more.
Write on!~
Lisa Manyon
Lisa,
Yes ! The more we embrace change the more on track we are
to achieving the success we desire and dream of.