Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Hard Decisions

Making easy decisions are easy. So let's talk about the hard decisions.

Consider your team's choice on getting from start to finish. You can take path A or B.

A and B each have their own +/- (positive/negative aspects).

If the choice isn't clear, then enlist other smart people to the task. (Everyone loves to be a consultant.)  If we all still have a hard time choosing a winner, then just pick one without regret. Close, and keep moving on.

Why? Well, if it's still hard, then the choices are really close anyway. And, what people often forget is: While you're not deciding between A and B, you're already choosing C (no decision, no action)  And, that choice often is the far worse of the 3 options.

After you've chosen, say, path B.... Realize that, yes, there will be bumps in the road on path B ---  Just as there would have been if you chose path A.  Don't keep switching paths unless there is significant new data.  Stick with a path.  You can disagree, but as a team, you must commit and own the path together.

Disagree, but commit:
If you hit a bump in the road, don't be the schmuck who says, "I told you so!" and let the mission fail.  We succeed or fail as a team.  Our customers don't care who's wrong or right and who's to blame.  If one wing of our plane is on fire, it's a fool who says, "It's not my wing on fire!".

If we hit a bump, make the best of it.  Own it.  Help yourself out.  It makes for a better chance of success, and is more fun for everyone.  If we hit a really big bump, that's new data, and we may start over on the decision making process.  But, while the bumps are small, keep going, with no regrets!


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Our value (Accomplishments only get you in)

Accomplishments get you in.

Action now and in the future keep you in.

The value I created in the past is great, sure, but what matters most is the value I'll bring to the team in the present and future.

It doesn't matter if you cured cancer in the past. That only gets you the entry into the job in the first place. It's not what's going to keep you on the team now and in the future. You have to create new value for the team every day.

And, isn't it really more fun to bring your best every day anyway?

Reflect on those few "queen bees" (of any gender) you've worked with, who keep things "too close to their chest", and become, happily for them (but resented by everyone else), bottlenecks in an organization. They think this gives them power and job security. On the contrary, this is the first person everyone on the team usually wants to get rid of. Always make sure you're contributing NOW.