One of the biggest obstacles to getting things done is the near obsessive compulsive need to make sure everything is an ideal situation before moving forward. Some people just like the idea of perfection while others hide from accountability by waiting for “ideal”. This attitude might seem like a high standard but it’s actually a very low
Healthy fear is better categorized as wise caution. This comes from experience and helps in understanding how timing and resources can help mitigate risks. Healthy fear isn’t a result of insecurity. It is a result of understanding limits. There is a huge difference between the two but many people do not see the distinction. A huge red
What should a team do when they are dealing with someone who hesitates and allows unhealthy fear to enter into the decision-making process? The first step is to acknowledge the fearful statements as actually fearful. This step is important because people often mistake their fear for wisdom and it is important to not allow others to see
Which pedal do you push when you see a yellow light? Do you hit the brakes or do you hit the gas? I realize that there are people who don’t gas it through an intersection and still get things done. I am just trying to point out a similar reaction to a challenge. Not everyone hesitates in
A false dichotomy can often hold a team back. Philosophies do not have to be as mutually exclusive as we like to make them out to be. Teams should avoid identifying themselves with a single methodology. This is often done when we allow ourselves to become fans of a way to do things. This fan mindset places
Some things stand the test of time. A good example of this is the I formation in football. In the 100 years the game has existed, there have been thousands of different formations but the balanced effect that the I formation has provided offenses has caused it to stubbornly exist in playbooks long after some of the
Once someone has been identified as a person who is capable of making solid decisions on their own, we should look for reasons to delegate and defer. This is sometimes counter-intuitive when we are used to making a certain kind of decision. We know why we choose what we choose and there is often a fear that
Decision-making is a vital skill that should not be taken for granted. Freedom means freedom of choice and you never know if that is a new experience for someone. When a team empowers someone to make decisions, they should know what the track record is for their ability to make decisions. Do they have the confidence to
Every team has that short list of players who never seem to come off the field. They are reliable and ready for seemingly every situation. They never seem to wear out and help keep everything together when no one else notices. It’s easy to take these people for granted because they step up constantly and are expected
When teams lose confidence in the midst of adversity they are demonstrating a few possible attitudes that will limit the team’s progress. These include: The Doubter The Defender of the Status Quo (DSQ) The Pleaser The Quitter These people all mean well but if they win the day, the team will take steps backward in their attempt