MY DEAR FRIEND AND MENTOR, CAVAS GOBHAI, RECENTLY DISCUSSED AN APPROACH TO PLANNING THAT I BELIEVE HAS A LOT OF POWER AND APPLIES TO MUCH MORE THAN JUST BUILDING A PLAN.  HE CALLED HIS APPROACH “FACING FORWARD.”

 

MANY OF US WERE TRAINED AND DEVELOPED WITH THE WORLD WAR II PROCESS OF MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES.  COMMAND AND CONTROL, PREDICTABLE, LIMITED OPTIONS/COMPETITION, US DOMINANCE,  LOYAL WORKFORCE AND CUSTOMERS! IT HAS SERVED US WELL IN THE PAST, BUT THE NEW APPROACH SUGGESTS THAT, IN BUILDING THE FUTURE, YOU MUST FACE FORWARD.   THE CONCEPT IS DECEIVINGLY SIMPLE.  NO MATTER HOW YOU HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS PLACE WITH YOUR BUSINESS OR YOUR LIFE, ALL THAT MATTERS IS WHAT COMES NEXT.  DIGGING UP PAST MISTAKES AND WEAKNESSES, HOPING THAT “THE GOOD OLD DAYS” WILL JUST MIRACULOUSLY COME BACK,  OR HOPING THAT WHAT WORKED OR DIDN’T WORK ARE ALL IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ALL ADD UP TO A LOT OF WASTED ENERGY.  WHAT YOUR TEAM IS LOOKING FOR IS CLARITY- YOUR SIMPLE IDEA OF WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FACING FORWARD IS HOW WE PERFORM AN HONEST “S.W.O.T. ANALYSIS.” (S.W.O.T stand for “STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES & THREATS.) WITH A FACING FORWARD APPROACH WE WILL CHANGE A “S.W.O.T.” TO “KEEPS & CHANGES.”  THE KEY TO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD IS TO FOCUS ON THE “KEEPS” AND AMPLIFY THOSE ATTRIBUTES OF THE ORGANIZATION.  MOST WILL BE ANXIOUS TO GET TO THE WEAKNESSES/”CHANGES”  OF THE TEAM, BUT AS A LEADER YOU WILL BUILD ON THE KEEPS TO GET TO 2012 TACTICS THAT WILL LEAD YOU AND TEAM ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF  HOW TO GROW THE BUSINESS.  THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR MANY OF US BABY BOOMERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND DEVELOPED TO IDENTIFY OUR WEAKNESSES AND ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO THE BUSINESS.

THIS CAN APPLY TO ALL PARTS OF OUR LIVES. WHETHER AS A PARENT, SON/DAUGHTER, COACH, CHURCH MEMBER, CHOIR LEADER OR FRENCH HORN PLAYER, EACH OF US HAS TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE FROM THIS MOMENT ON; WE WILL DETERMINE WHAT WILL WORK GOING FORWARD VS. WHAT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST.  EASY TO SAY, TOUGH TO DO, BUT WITH DISCIPLINE AND PRACTICE, YOU CAN (AND MUST!) CHANGE HOW YOU LEAD.
 
HERE’S TO A ROCK STAR 2012! THOUGH 2012 MAY STILL BE FILLED WITH FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY, I’M CERTAIN THAT IT CAN BE A BREAK OUT YEAR FOR YOU!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!