We live in a world of speed where we expect everything at a click of a finger. Health, wealth, travel, food, relationships, happiness, we want it all now!!
Patience levels are at their lowest. We live in a society where tolerance levels are scarce and that, combined with higher demands for superior living standards, along with unrealistic expectations, can bring immense levels of stress.
Lower patience and a lack of understanding for each other’s styles, when business owners and leaders tend to adopt a rapid result focussed approach, brings its own challenges. Avoiding taking the smaller, gradual steps and well thought through decisions brings its own negatives - where a fall can be potentially very painful, particularly when you are trying to climb in “leaps and bounds”.
It is crucial to define the difference between “fast” and “rushed”. A rushed approach is negating the quality and thought process. A fast approach would adapt to the efficiency and the customer outcome, which are both equally important. The fast, well thought out option also allows room for flexibility and accommodates varied tastes, without resorting to a cookie-cutter rushed response or approach.
The focus should be around “perseverance” backed with a well thought out plan which has the impartial, open input of a group of similar people that can offer unbiased, open and direct advice which can be highly impactful.
Business owners and leaders work under tight deadlines for reasons that include gaining and maintaining market share. So, what is the solution? Do we extend our timescales out? Have less aggressive ambitions? The answer sometimes exists in the obvious.
Where do we draw the line? So what’s the solution?
We have heard high performance presenters talking about “just jump and learn to fly on the way down”, etc. Sometimes the devil is in the detail. The reason why smaller steps are important and a patient, persevered approach is more strategically rewarding, is that we can very quickly learn and adapt to any required change of direction and use a “test and progress approach” rather than a rapid, aggressive approach where there is a higher risk of getting it all wrong.
A few simple steps can ensure a balanced, strategic approach avoiding rash and rushed decisions which could potentially result in negative results, and a loss of valuable time and effort.
- Strategic Focus – life is not a Sprint but more like a Marathon so thinking decades ahead, not month by month, is the recipe for longer-term success and contentment.
- Getting opinions from a trusted group - sharing with a peer group in a confidential setting, where everyone has your best interest at heart, and extracting advice that is based on a group not just an individual.
- Getting breaks and rest at the necessary times - a rested mind is a powerful mind which will perform both efficiently and effectively.
- Appreciating and enjoying the present, the "now"- rather than implementing and laying down conditions. For example, I will be happy and restful if I get to “XYZ”.
- Working with a plan – A simple plan with the breakdown for the timescales will enable clearer view for forecasting, cash flow analysis, KPI’s and more.
- Do it for you, rather than competing with the world – trying to get a quick and sharper edge than the other competitor may not always be the right answer. It’s all about what will work best in the long run.
- Avoid shortcuts – they simply do not exist.
It takes time to develop character, and manage and develop teams. That, combined with spinning numerous plates in a business environment, all takes time, careful thought and planning.
Making complex decisions, winning new business and dealing with conflict resolution are not quick fixes.
When you rush decision making for yourself and the business, you are negotiating around the development of your business and your personal character. Hence, it becomes vital to have calculated, unrushed, well thought out and planned decision-making processes which, to achieve success, are based on facts and history.
