This blog assumes that blind spots of power come with the CEO role no matter how good or true or well-intended you are. You can't afford to have them. So I give reminders of what I have seen in my experience to help you see. Or try to see. Monday morning practical tips will help you sharpen up and see what tweaks you and your blind spot. A little whack on the side of the head with your Monday morning coffee.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
TRADE-OFFS SHOULD BE EXCRUCIATING DECISIONS
Sometimes trade-off discussions can seem so gentle a kind of garage sale barter. I'll trade you a training program for some more marketing money.
I'll trade you 3 staff positions for an outside expert consultant. You get used to it. It's just pragmatic priority setting.
Not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the top strategic choices you, as a top leader, are in charge of making. You make tough decisions all the time.
You fire people, you cut budgets and thus people. Most times you are making the least bad decision. (You know, the one that sucks less.)
What I am talking about is choosing the possibility of the future for your company. This is and should be courageous and scary and risky. That's why your strategic choices need to be worth it. Clear with sharp edges. Every action needs to be a "yes" or a "no". The things you say "no" to should be very difficult or your "yes" isn't strong enough.
AND the excruciating choice needs to be a giant YES. "NO" decisions will not
grow your business or motivate your associates or enthuse your customers.
Don't be blind to your own juggling and compromising and teaching yourself to think small. Make the big strategic choice, a "YES" choice, for your company and let the consequences begin. Make the work worth it.
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As much as we don't want to admit it our trade-offs look more like a Michael Jackson Moonwalk - we back into it. No giant yes there. Keep em coming Joyce.
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