The summer has blown by and I’m busy getting geared up for the fall. There are a lot of great things happening that I will keep you posted on.
I am training for a big cycling ride with a friend and we were discussing the high probability of getting a flat tire as we were riding on one of our several epic training rides. We were both saying that it would be a great idea to take a mini-course in changing flat tires and also to carry a spare tube and pump. Three weeks later we had a similar discussion, no action taken.
You can guess what’s next… This past weekend I noticed my tire was low as I was leaving my house to meet friends for a long ride. I pumped it up and went on my way hoping to get lucky since I did not have a spare tube. Sure enough, it became fully flat and I needed to turn around.
Was I prepared? No way. I found several tubes at my house, none fit my bike. In fact, I didn’t really know how to change the tire, although I knew with enough time, I could figure it out. However, I didn’t have time! My friends were already at the site, the temperature was going up and we had other things to do that day. What did I do? I grabbed a different bike and hustled down to meet my friends. The final result: I was slower with the other bike (and more tired at the end), I held up my friends unnecessarily, and we biked in hotter weather than we needed to.
How does this compare to the “flat tires” we encounter at work? The phone calls that we procrastinate returning that turn into a crisis; the piles of documentation that await us that we put off until the audit; the problematic employee who needs crucial feedback or disciplinary action that you hesitate to give until the situation gets out of control.
What would it be like to have the initial concern/task/idea and then take pro-active action?
How much time is lost changing the proverbial flat tire when you are blindsided by the sharp object?
Being ready means having the knowledge, the resources (material and people), the time, and the motivation to manage the issue. Instead of pushing away the initial concern, I invite you to get ready for the situation and take action.
I wish you an awesome start to the fall season.