by Gayle Lantz
Firefighting is a natural part of business. Just don’t let the smoke get to you.
A group of company executives met to discuss business strategy, a rare occurrence since they had been in reactive mode all year. With all the changes in their market, they were accustomed to responding to the crisis of the day.
They had had enough. It was time to focus on higher level issues and big picture goals. They wanted to be proactive, but weren’t sure how to direct themselves.
Ironically, they had difficulty staying focused in their “strategy session.” They had become conditioned to firefighting as they checked their blackberries for the latest news, updates, requests, etc. Little was accomplished.
Leaders must strike the right balance between strategic focus and crisis management.
Here are some ways to squelch the “fires” while moving toward your goals.
- Determine if it’s really a fire. Sometimes others can make something seem more urgent than it really is. Keep a cool head so you can discern the reality of the situation.
- Be preventive. Check your procedures and people. Do you have the right ones in place? With your team, review the three greatest unexpected problems that occurred most recently. Determine what could have been done differently to have prevented these problems. Often poor communication is a culprit.
- Take quick action. Make the best decisions you can under the circumstances and move on. Don’t dwell on the problem. Trust your leadership instincts. The more quickly you can help others focus on the bigger picture, the faster the smoke will clear.
If the firefighting really gets to you, you might need some fresh air. Take a break from your work, or seek out people who can help you gain perspective to lead at your best.
The Bright Side of Firefighting
As Nietzsche said, “What doesn’t kill us will make us stronger.”
Build your leadership strength in times of adversity. Your experience will help you become more effective IF you take some time after the fire to reflect on your learning. Trust that you can handle whatever fire blazes in your business.
On the Lighter Side
Fires all go out eventually. ~Author Unknown
Leadership Resource
|
Take The Bull by the Horns was recognized as a Finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!
The book received awards in two categories: Best Business Book and Best Overall Design for Non-Fiction.
Order the print copy and/or audio program today to help you and your team take charge!
To order any WorkMatters resources, please visit
WorkMatters.com/resources
For bulk orders, contact our office directly at
205-879-8494.
International orders may be placed through:
Amazon.com
Special distribution available in Canada.
Join WorkMatters Tips to receive future issues of this ezine direct to your inbox.
Reprint Rights
You may reprint items from "WorkMatters Tips" in your own print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:
Reprinted from "WorkMatters Tips," a free ezine produced by Gayle Lantz featuring tips for leaders and executives who want to grow themselves, their team and their business. Subscribe at:
WorkMatters.com/signup.