A new year is upon us. In fact, tomorrow is the last day of January…already! And I think “gosh, time goes by so fast!” And yet, it doesn’t really. Time itself doesn’t move faster or slower, and on average, we all have about 2,080 working hours every year to accomplish the goals we set forth. So, it seems like a fitting time to ask—have you decided where you’re going this year?
One of the chapters in John Maxwell’s book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is called the Law of Navigation. Maxwell states, “The truth is that nearly anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.” Before good leaders take their people on a journey, they go through a process to give the trip the best chance of success. They look both inward and outward, drawing on their own—and their team members—for insight that’s both good and bad. Good experiences can provide momentum for replication. But think of a time you or your team made a significant mistake or didn’t achieve an important end-goal. Finances took a downturn. Resources were not accurately considered. Or team members didn’t get on board with the plan, leaving productivity gains low and waste high. While disappointing to be sure, if you reflect carefully and objectively, those kinds of failures often provide lessons that are remembered far more distinctly, and stay with us long after the project (or year) is past. And good leaders know that a plan is also a great communication tool. It’s so much easier to get other people on board when they too can see the vision.
So have you decided where your business will be at this time next year? If not, give it some thought. Over the last 17 years, I’ve worked with many CEOs who have a great plan—in their head! (Sound like anyone you know?) So, my very best advice is, “It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just go the extra step and actually put those thoughts onto paper.” Until you’ve tried it, you have no idea how much easier it is to evaluate a written plan and see where there might be gaps, obstacles, challenges, or difficulties that lie ahead! And THAT’s what you’re planning for! Not just where are we going to be in 11 months, but let’s look at our risks and our options. If we DO encounter these issues, how are we going to handle them? Thinking them through ahead of time can make all the difference between a successful year and a potential disaster!
Know that planning does “take” time—but it’s NOT a “waste” of time. If you haven’t put a plan together yet, and especially if one of your goals is to improve company culture, get your employees input! Your employees are the MOST critical aspect of the plan, and their work can make or break the company. Don’t assume they know what direction leadership is going! Good leaders recognize the time to be—or learn to be—an effective navigator is NOW. After all, there’s no time like the present!
…Also, I just might know where you can hire a great coach!