The question is – How fast or slow should the business go in order to realize its greatest outcomes? Is your business in a sprint or running a marathon? These are tricky questions. At first, they appear to be simple, but if you dig deeper into the question, there are a variety of factors that business leaders need to consider to make the best decisions about the pace at which the business needs to operate to achieve the best results.
Most of the time, when we hear the word pace, we think in terms of speed and tend to see the rate of progress to require fast and immediate effort. It is true that the pace in the world is running at what seems to be an ever increasing rate. Unfortunately, leaders can sometimes get caught up in the speed of change and potentially make decisions based on only part of the information needed. At that moment, they feel like they are on top of things and running the sprint, but things happen, and they experience a setback and are not only not sprinting but struggling to be in the marathon.
The ebb and flow of pace in the work setting must be acknowledged and planned for by leadership. The business cannot realistically sustain sprinting for its entire life. There are definitely times when a full-court press is needed and sometimes when the business needs to fall back and protect by playing solid defense. There are many parallels that businesses can see in sporting events. In football, the two-minute warning at the end of the game incites energy when the score is tied or close enough that the change in scoring will affect the final outcome. At this same time, the leadership has predefined plays specifically designed for this time in the game. They have been pre-planned. These plans take into consideration the talent to maximize the results of each separate play, so it culminates in a score.
This takes on the energy of the sprint. There is only 1 two-minute warning event prior to the close of the end of the game in the 4th quarter. Yes, there is one just before halftime, but we have all witnessed great comebacks in the 3rd and 4th quarters, which ultimately reduces that two-minute effort into more of a drill than a need to score. Each of these events has its own pace, and leadership must adjust according to the demands of the time. This is equally true in business. Leadership needs to make pace adjustments along the path to success.
The pace in business, life, and sports can boil down to understanding the energy level to infuse into the time of the situation. Sometimes, more energy is required for a longer time, such as a marathon, while in other cases, it is all in for a short burst of speed in the 100-yard dash. Depending on the particular individuals involved (knowing your talent), different decisions need to be made so each person can contribute to the best of their abilities.
As you look at yourself, your business’s talent, resources, and capabilities, at what pace should you be traveling now? What do you need to prepare for in the near future if the pace needs to adjust either up or down? Have you been running at such a high rate that you will burn out before the end of the race? Recognizing that pace is a variable that impacts success is a starting point to utilizing it as a secret weapon to be the best you and your team can be. Preparing in advance for the necessary shift in pace so everyone is on the same page is a unique way to separate you and your organization in the marketplace.
Are you looking to build a properly pace-driven organization? Give JKL Associates a call and speak to a Promise Guide about your needs. Call us in Michigan – (313) 527-7945 or Florida (407) 984-7246.
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