I was stopped on a small goat trail high up near the peak of Mount Fitzwilliam in the summer of 1996 following my buddy Terry Brock and for a moment I was frozen. I could neither go forwards and I knew that I couldn’t go backwards. Looking down the mountain, I quickly understood that one mistake in my footing would result in a tumble that would take me a thousand feet down the rocks to certain injury or perhaps worse. I was scared and I couldn’t move.
We have all been there, frozen by indecision about what is the best way forward when challenged by precipitous choices. I had a client who was frozen last week, unsure of what he should do in his business. The moment I walked into his establishment, I knew something was up. The employees were tense and he looked upset.
As we walked to his office, he voiced concerns about the changes that were happening and how his staff was taking it. He had made some notes about what he thought he might do but told me that he had just been staring at the options for hours, not sure of what to do next. He was overwhelmed by his own inaction and ability to make a decision.
What is facing most businesses today is something that leaders in our western world have not faced for decades. Only in times of war have businesses been forced to close for extended periods of time, and we haven’t seen war really affect the western world since the Second World War. Not only has the supply chain dried up for many businesses, so have their customers. People are not coming into businesses and their sales teams are not permitted out. The challenge for many people is overwhelming and many leaders are frozen by indecision about what to do next.
When another one of my clients was forced to shut down his business last week, I asked him what he was going to do? He told me that he was contacting his landlord, bankers and suppliers to communicate what he was doing and to ask for extended terms. He was laying off his employees so that they could collect unemployment money as he couldn’t pay them. He also told me that he was going to take this time to re-evaluate and reset his business. He had a plan and moved through the steps to make it a reality.
This was a different approach than my first client took. He didn’t have a plan, and as a result was overwhelmed. He hadn’t considered the best, worst or most probable options and then worked through them like the second client did.
Without a plan, we become frozen. When we try to do things alone, we cannot lift the burden. The burden is heavy right now and most business owners have only day-to day-plans as they feel this is what they are forced to look at. However, by taking a few hours to work through the options for the longer term of 90 days, businesses and organizations can develop plans that not only spur on action but reduce stress.
In order for leaders to shoulder the burden of decisions, they need help. If you haven’t created a culture in your business where you tap into the brains and wisdom of your employees, the time is now. Developing a process of 90-day planning will not only help you get through the current crisis, it will help you position your business for future successes. If you need guidelines on how to create a 90-day plan with your team, please fire me off an email and I will send you my template.
High up on the goat trail, I had to evaluate my options to overcome my fears. Once I started walking again my anxiety of falling subsided. My second client came up with a plan that enabled him to move forward as well and by the time I left his establishment he was smiling and so were his staff. The current times are challenging for many organizational leaders but having a plan and examining your options will reduce your stress and the stress of your employees.
- Dave Fuller MBA is an award-winning professional business coach and the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Frozen? Email dave@profityourselfhealthy.com
