Solve it, prevent it, or manage it?
"Either run the day or the day runs you." Jim Rohn
Years ago, while serving in the Army at Fort Lewis, Washington as an aide to a general, we had a large field exercise. Fort Lewis, being in the Pacific Northwest was known for its inclement weather. The clouds would drift over the coastal mountains and hover over the Puget Sound. In short, it rained a lot. This field exercise was conducted in a large operation center housed in a series of tents connected together. Separate tents posed a problem as the rain would find its way in and harm the delicate computer systems and electricity powering the lighting. To overcome this, leaders laid down pallets and hung waterproof gutters through out the structure to steer the water away from computers, electrical outlets, and people. I heard one leader call it "water management," and I still remember it.
As leaders we cannot control the environment or solve every problem. Indeed, there is much that is beyond our control. What we can do is manage things to lessen negative impacts. During that rainy field exercise, we were not going to defeat the rain or prevent some things from getting wet, but we could organize things so that we could continue to train. In a business such as landscaping, which relies on dry, sunny weather, schedules could be adjusted to overcome days when conditions are too wet. Grass cutting may take a back seat to planting. Leaders could shift focus to equipment maintenance or other activities important to the business but of lesser priority during favorable weather periods.
This approach is one of perseverance. I've seen some leaders stifled by problems and conditions which have no easy solutions. They see things in black or white. "Solve this or quit." The best ones choose management. Management comes in a few forms. There is expectation management where leaders can share that rough waters are ahead, warning superiors and subordinates that outcomes may not be as desired due to conditions outside of anyone's control. There is also management of things - systems, schedules, finances, etc. which a leader can alter, stop, or create to deal with challenges.
In times like the field exercise story I shared, management is all we have. Do your best under the conditions you are in. Persevere. You'll probably find that everything will be ok. And remember, we manage things, we lead people. Steer the water but invest in your people.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell