Two coyotes wandered through the field, unbothered by the two people watching them. Each would occasionally pounce, lifting its head up with a critter in its mouth that would be swallowed whole. It wasn’t hard work for them, just a casual stroll and a pounce. Clearly, food was plentiful.
Conditions can be so good at times, hard work isn’t needed to gain rewards. But those are precisely the times when hard work should be employed so skills aren’t lost when the good times disappear.
A tree limb fell across the trail. It was too big to step over and, with the other limbs it took down along the way, required navigating around to keep going on the path.
In business, obstacles pop up that block the path forward. Sometimes it just requires looking at the obstacle to see how to navigate around it rather than seeing it as a roadblock that requires a different path.
Spring arrived a little over a month ago and plants and flowers have been growing rapidly. The right amount of light and heat wakes plants up from their winter slumber. The conditions create an environment where things can thrive.
The same is true in business. Often times it just takes a tweak here or there to fine tune the conditions that enable people to thrive. Are you looking for those tweaks in your business?
The other day, I cooked something that had a lot of garlic in it. It was great. But the aroma from the leftovers in the fridge didn’t stay contained. The aroma filled up the fridge and wafted into the room when the fridge door was opened. It was just something that couldn’t be contained.
In business, there are things we don’t want contained. Enthusiasm, good ideas, important messages. Organizations should be designed with a certain amount of permeability so the good stuff can circulate.
Something new appeared in the stream by the bridge. A male duck. It didn’t fly away as I approached. One day is swam under the bridge. Another it stood on a rock next to the bridge. And yet another day, it swam behind a branch by the bridge. It was as if it was guarding something under the bridge. Maybe a nesting female? I may never know.
Creating intrigue can be tough to do in business when people see the same thing every day. Sometimes it is just a matter of introducing something new that catches the eye and makes people want to look more.
There’s a tree on the trail that fell over some years ago, leaving just a stump behind. It has foliage around it, moss on the stump and a portion missing at the base. Maybe some would share that if asked what they see. To me, it also looks like a woman’s bootie. I have shoes like that, and this stump reminds me of them.
As leaders, we need to understand how people in the organization see things. That will allow for addressing concerns and making any necessary course corrections. After all, you won’t be able to persuade people if you don’t understand their perspective and address their concerns.
My starts are chugging along. I made some tweaks this year that have been game changers. But still, not everything is growing at the same rate. Some are very small while others need to be transplanted again. Varietal, light, heat, germination rate. Everything has an impact. Compared to last year, my starts are way ahead. Compared to each other is a different matter.
When we see statistics, it is helpful to ask “as compared to what?” And understand how good a comparison point the benchmark is.
My neighbors shared they were having some trees removed. It is something they have been concerned about as limbs were on their roof. I didn’t think through that the day of removal was also the day I had planned to write. Machine noises and concentration don’t go together well.
There are often events in business that we are aware of that conflict with planned work. One of the tricks is to make sure people are watching for them so work can be adjusted and disruptions avoided.
Last year, I tried growing vegetables from seed. I started them late and didn’t have once piece of equipment that helps them grow. This year, determined not to make the same mistake twice, I started them significantly earlier. And they are going to town! If the earlier warmer temperatures don’t materialize like predicted this year, I’ll be too early. Getting the timing right is a delicate balance I’m finding.
The same sort of thing happens in business. It’s hard to get timing exactly right when key elements are out of your control. Better to start early so you can adjust. Trying to make up for lost time is difficult, if not impossible.
There are streams that run through the park, requiring bridges to cross. But it isn’t just people that cross the bridges. Horses do too. And it is clear that they don’t always cross on the reinforced portion of the bridge, as evidenced by holes that get covered up by boards so others don’t get hurt stepping in the holes. A regular reminder to use the bridge as it was designed.
The same challenge exists in businesses. When something is used in a way that it was not designed for, damage can be done. Sometimes a new use presents itself. Changing uses should be done deliberately, with the full knowledge of the potential consequences.