Avoiding Difficult Decisions Doesn't Make Them Go Away

One of the fatal flaw of ineffective leaders is that they often adopt the attitude of, "It will all work out," and "I don't want to get involved." However, organizational models, real history and common sense indicate that is often not the case. While there are always petty matters that do not require a leader's attention or efforts, there are more pressing matters that a real leader needs to address directly, often without delay or procrastination.

While it is almost never a good idea to act hastily, or over-react without thinking the matter through, it is almost always far worse to do nothing or procrastinate. Leaders who procrastinate are not leaders at all. In my three decades of consulting to businesses and organizations on numerous issues including leadership and management, I have never witnessed when procrastinating proved to be the best course in the long run. Unfortunate, far too many so-called leaders procrastinate because they are either unwilling, unable or too "afraid" to take decisive action, or fear a loss of popularity. True leadership requires ignoring one's own popularity, and replacing it rather with doing the right thing.

Situations, dangers, obstacles and perils do not simply disappear because you do nothing. In fact, what generally happens when a leader procrastinates, is that the situation is exacerbated. It becomes far more complex and difficult to overcome because of the "law of unintended circumstances," meaning that what might have been a rather simple challenge to overcome originally, if acted upon immediately, ends up developing into a far worse situation.

One of the biggest errors made is not paying sufficient attention to small to medium sized expenses, thinking that they were "insignificant" costs in the large picture. As someone who has prepared budgets for decades, financial success or failure often occurs because of the bundling of these small expenses. If a real leader examined it, he would say that fiscal responsibility is called for, regardless of the expense, and all expenses need to be examined in terms of cost/ benefit. Most ineffective leaders avoid the issue, and then unintended circumstances occur because of the procrastination.

Leaders must never avoid making decisions, regardless of the degree of difficulty. They should examine issues thoroughly, understand them fully, and then proceed in a timely manner to take action. Of course, an ineffective leader can always claim, "It's not my job."

Too Many Excuses, Not Enough Action

It seems that so many people these days always want to get patted on the back for everything they do, byt like to absolve themselves from any responsibility for anything that might not go perfectly. One often hears a variety of excuses, as well as attempts to place the "blame" elsewhere. Since mistakes are always going to occur, my main complaint is not that a mistake occurs (for i certainly make plenty of those), but by individual's who are unwilling to admit errors.

There is always some excuse. How many times has someone told you that the project was late because either the individual or a family member became suddenly ill. Of course, illnesses occur, and nobody invites them and tells them when they are admitted. On the other hand, most of the time, the illness might not have been a determining factor had the project begun earlier. Too many people tend to procrastinate, or make promises, or indicate that something will be done by a certain date, and then when it is not accomplished in a timely manner, attempt to explain away the failure to perform by using excuses or blaming others.

I wish that people and companies would simply not promise to do something if they have no realistic intention or ability to get it done by that deadline. If it happens once, it is understandable. However, in my decades of management and consulting, I have observed that there is generally a pattern of non-performance. There are always some individuals, companies, and organizations that consistently accomplish things they agree to do, while others rarely get it done as promised.

Is this failure to perform merely over-enthusiasm, misjudgment of abilities, mis-analysis of what needed to be done, or a pattern of less than honest behavior? Again, I have observed that most often when there is a pattern of non-performance that there is more than a slight degree of dishonesty.

I simply wish that individuals, companies and organizations would keep their promises. If they believe they cannot get something done by a specific asked-for time, simply state that upfront, and give a realistic, achievable time when they can achieve it, while "shooting for" an earlier completion time.

If Life Deals You Lemons, You Need To Make Lemonade

We all experience periods of bad times as well as periods of good. Individuals who adapt to misfortunes by learning from these experiences, and somehow benefiting, are generally both the happiest and the most successful. The adage, "Life is not a bowl of cherries" tells us that not everything will always work out the way we hope, or even anticipate, and to understand that limitation in order to best adapt to circumstances.

Many people seem to enjoy complaining that life is unfair, and hasn't dealt them a fair hand. Realistically, life doesn't "deal," it simply offers us opportunities to either take advantage of, do nothing, or use poorly. There is never any guarantee in anything we do, but our "odds" of succeeding are distinctly enhanced when we take advantage of possibilities, improve our abilities, and upgrade our skill-set, rather than say, "I can't do that." Many individuals seem to prefer making excuses than taking the necessary actions to enhance skills that might be lacking (or need upgrading).

Obviously, not everyone can do writing or mathematics easily. All too many of those individuals, either due to frustration, inadequate training or education, or a "mental block," simply give up, and stop attempting to write or use mathematics, unless absolutely necessary. Others recognize their limitations, and use the opportunities offered to enhance their training, learn other skills, take training, or discipline themselves, and do to this added commitment, become "above par" in these areas.

A great example of using ones limitations, and "making lemonade when life deals you lemons," is how one might adapt to difficulty "keyboarding." Unfortunately, many, if not most individuals, handle this "obstacle" by using "avoidance techniques," and by avoiding using the keyboard, often neglect necessary tasks and duties, such as doing school or work assignments, as well as enjoying activities that comfort with using the keyboard would afford them. The individual who wants to "make lemonade," on the other hand, would find an alternative way of handling this circumstance. One such alternative might be installing and using "voice recognition software, such as Dragon 10. In that way, the obstacle of the use of the keyboard, whether due to a physical reason, a lack of patience, or some other disruptive "force," can not only be as productive as someone comfortable with the keyboard, but in many ways even more productive. This program permits one to use e-mail, word processing, PowerPoint, spreadsheets, etc., via the use of voice commands, instead of keyboards. The programs are easy to install, and easy to use, yet, of course require the individual to become familiar with the many features to fully take advantage of the program. For example, it is estimated that someone can "type" something approximately four times as quickly using voice commands than using the keyboard. Therefore, the individual who takes advantage of this alternative is using a potential obstacle, and instead of merely complaining about it, finds "another way" to function effectively.

In many areas of everyday life, we find tons of obstacles where we have choices - - either complain and be negative, or "think outside the box" and find a better way. Successful individuals do not give up, but rather find ways to get things done. Most things are possible if one thinks positively!