May 7, 2020
ISSN# 1545-2646
Skate to where the puck is going!
We have all been on various conference calls, video calls, webinars etc. over the past few weeks collecting invaluable insights into the various options we have to navigate the shutdown caused by the pandemic. Some are still in the what happened mode. Others are in the taking some action mode. Yet others are in the how do we capitalize on this situation mode.
On one of these calls, a colleague of mine mentioned a quote from a legendary hockey player – Wayne Gretzky. His quote is “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” This quote started ringing in my ears like a gong. This is exactly the way people need to be thinking right now as we emerge from the shutdown.
Good companies will continue to operate in the same order they were in which at the time was giving them results. They will remain at that pre-shutdown level. For some that might very well be good enough. I would venture to say that the business world just like the real world has changed. Being at a good level prior to the pandemic will be far less than good coming out of it. Everyone will need to up their game. Expectations will have moved on from the past to a new future level of demand. People will be wanting to make up for lost time and therefore their time expectation will be even tighter.
You can always be a great business player as quoted. These are the businesses which are taking this time and pivoting from what were good practices to great practices. They are looking into the future and observing what is taking place and anticipating where the business world is going to be at post pandemic uncertainty. To look into the future and move to where the puck is going is not something you just wake up one morning and say you have it. It takes practice, understanding, data and managed risk. You must be willing to potentially forget what got you success in the past so you can have greater success in the future. This is very counter intuitive for most people. All of the work you put into your business to have it be successful may not be what the marketplace is going to need moving forward. If you keep doing the same thing and expect different results you are just kidding yourself.
This week decide if you and your business are going to be good or great. It is easy to say you will be great, but then you need to make yourself a promise to be great. What does it look like? How will you know you are on the right path? What tangible results will you see along the journey so you can make course corrections if and when needed? Who do you need on your team to make this happen? Are you willing to make the difficult choices to up your game?
It is always easier said than done and this one is even more true. Greatness is attained through hard work and repetitive great actions. You can expect your team to be great if you are not great to begin with and demonstrate your commitment to them daily. Your actions of skating to where the puck is going will be challenging. If you are going to be great then now is the time to make that promise.
Give Your Promise Guide at JKL Associates a call at (313) 527-7945 in Michigan or (407) 984-7246 in Florida. Let’s skate together in the right direction.