The goal is to scale, and fast. How do you know that your analysis is done and it's time to make a decision? How do you know when it's finally time to change your strategic direction, or to let go an underperforming team member that you have tolerated for a long time? Any decision, any option is going to be uncomfortable in some way. You do, though, have the opportunity to pick your pain.
Pain of loss
Regarding your underperformer -you project forward in time and realize that you are going to miss this person - you might have been golf buddies or grown up together. You'll miss his goofy Dad jokes at the weekly team meetings. But you won't miss him consuming so much of your time following up, correcting mistakes, or smoothing feathers. Letting this person go might leave you short-staffed for a time until you can find a replacement. Ultimately, regardless of all of the above, you choose this loss for the good of the business.
Pain of change
It might feel easier to cruise along on the strategic path that you have been traveling. You are comfortable - you know the rules of the road, and you know where the potholes are. Uncertainty associated with change is uncomfortable. You like to know the answers, and you don't enjoy the ambiguity that comes with finding a new way. Moreover, since your change will take you into uncharted territory (at least by you) there's a steep learning curve AND the potential that you might fail. At least in your current situation you can more readily predict what will happen next. Isn't "We're doing OK" enough? You choose to take on this pain when you see that the benefits of success are big enough to warrant the risks of failure.
Pain of discipline
Like the soreness in your muscles after a hard workout, this is the good pain. You might not feel like making the prospecting phone calls when the fresh Spring air is calling. You might want to grab a few more minutes of sleep and defer your pushups until tomorrow. The little lazy or fearful dude in your head might be whispering to you that one day of procrastination won't make a difference in the long run. The pain of discipline is a series of little pains that you push through for a worthwhile goal. The pain of discipline is more intense when you start, but as you grow accustomed to new and beneficial habits, the pain dissipates until your new routine is simply the way that you do things.
Pain of regret
This is the pain that is left when you allow yourself to stay stuck. You aren't willing to take a short term loss for a long term gain. You choose to stay comfortable in your easy chair and watch opportunity pass by. You choose to wing it, or allow your mood du jour to divert you from the activities that are known to create success - because they seem too hard. Unlike the other forms of pain, the pain of regret has no end point. It leads to the "woulda shoulda coulda" inner conversation that creates pessimism, even depression.
Everything you are doing today is contributing to your tomorrow. Pain is a cost, and just like monetary cost, whether it's too much or not depends upon the result to which you are comparing it. What do you want, and how much do you want it? What will it mean when you get there? What will be the impact on you, your team, your family, your community, your industry? What will be the consequences if you don't do anything differently than you are doing them today?
ProActive Leadership Group can help you think through the pros and cons of strategic decisions. Reach out if you would like to schedule a complimentary strategy session.
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