We all know that when it comes to getting something done there’s no time like the present. It is better to do it now than put it off until later. However, we can all be our own worst enemies when it comes to putting off certain tasks or seizing a new opportunity while it’s still hot.
“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” — Napoleon Hill
If you see an opportunity, seize it sooner rather than later. If you are waiting for a better time to act, you may find that by the time you get round to taking an opportunity, that ship will have sailed long ago. In challenging times, we take a fight, flight, or curl up in a ball approach and often feel more hesitant to seize new opportunities. Case in point is the COVID-19 situation.
If business is slower because of the pandemic, or you have staff on JobKeeper, the opportunity is there now to invest in their learning and development so that they become even more valuable when things start to pick back up again. What’s more, an investment in their learning and development will make them feel more engaged and motivated to help you achieve your business aims.
A higher performing team may just be the edge you need to weather any future storms. Taking this long-term view can feel risky in the short-term, but it is smart leadership strategy as long as you ensure that you measure ROI on their training.
Seize the bull by the horns, so to speak.
People management problems you might encounter could be:
These issues, while complex and often deep-rooted, can have simple solutions. At the core of the issue could be that you need to audit your company culture to make it better serve both your people and your customers. Discover these 5 steps to improving workplace culture.
There’s one thing for sure, the problem won’t go away by itself. Tackle the issue holistically and formulate a plan of action.
Leadership is a whole different ballgame in a crisis. While many of the fundamental principles of strong leadership remain the same, business leaders are under a lot more pressure than usual to keep things afloat.
Sorry, Jim Collins, but perfect is actually the real enemy of great, because it stops us from taking action, even when we can’t be confident about the outcome.
The theory is all well and good but it takes practice to make something great. Don’t be afraid to test and learn, encouraging your people to do the same. Mistakes can often be where the magic happens as they give you the opportunity to adjust your strategy according to reality. For this to work your team need to feel empowered and to trust them, you need to set up performance metrics.
Susan Rochester has been managing director of Balance at Work since 2006. Susan has a natural tendency to balance analytical thinking with an optimistic outlook to set direction and solve problems. She is an effective facilitator and constantly creates new and more effective ways of doing things, motivated by helping others to achieve their goals.