By Dustin Walling, Dustin Walling Associates In a 1964 game against the 49ers, Minnesota Viking Jim Marshall recovered a fumble and made an impressive 66 yard return… to the wrong end zone, handing a free score to his competition. Competing is tough enough, but in challenging times it’s critical not to waste energy running in circles.
Run Toward the Right Goals What is your company’s vision for the year ahead? Do you have a clear, defined, communicated vision guiding your path? If not, why not? Priorities, time, or do you get bogged down in the mechanics of putting a plan together? Now is the perfect time to hold your strategic planning event and point your entire team in one direction.
Listen to Your Team
I tell stories about business owners I know making what I call the “silent walk of hope.” It’s that daily march to the mailbox, praying more checks have magically arrived, all the while trying to hide their worry from the team. My practice is founded on the principle that some of the best sources for building new success and developing solutions come from within the company. What are you doing to draw out ideas from your staff? Do you know how?
Make the Hard Hits - Right Now
Sometimes it’s simply time to block and tackle – to make the no holds barred aggressive changes for the betterment of the company. If your team is having the debate over whether you’re reaching that line in the sand, let me make a suggestion: check behind you as you may have passed the line. In challenging times, it’s easy to wait too long before getting creative enough or aggressive enough. If you still can’t decide, ask a trusted colleague, or seek help.
Reach Your Goals Get crystal clear on what your goals for the year ahead are, and where they lay. Elicit your team’s support in charting the course. And take immediate action. In case you’re wondering, the Vikings still managed to pull out a win in their game, and with this winning formula, you can too.
Dustin Walling is principal of Dustin Walling Associates, a Seattle-based management consulting firm providing strategy and operational consulting. For article topics, questions, or comments, Dustin can be reached at www.DustinWalling.com.