Then I saw the SNAKE!

The young lady in the state park nature center was reviewing the trail options with us. You know, things like trail attributes, levels of difficulty and average time to complete. Essential information one needs before setting out on a  mountain hike.

Then I saw the SNAKE!

I didn’t hear another word she said thanks to that snake! The one in the aquarium right next to where I was standing. Yes, I realize the snake was in an aquarium. Didn’t matter. If anything can distract me, it's a snake!

That day we had three trail options. Should we take the easy trail? No way. That would be, well, too easy! The very strenuous trail then? Uh, no. I had no desire to be on the evening news for having been airlifted out! So, my family and I took the moderately challenging trail. 

Many leaders describe starting a new project or team initiative this way. They don’t view what’s ahead as easy, but  they also don’t view it as requiring heroic actions to achieve success. Instead, they consider the road ahead as moderately challenging. 

Fifteen minutes into the hike I was bombarded with challenges. The terrain was rockier than the smooth trail I envisioned. The piles of uneven rock stairs to climb had my heart rate soaring, and I hadn’t brought along enough water. I had allowed that ugly snake to distract me from anticipating these challenges.

As a leader you face mountains of challenges. Safety incidents, late equipment deliveries, quality issues, inclement weather and lots of people problems!

Whether you’re just starting a new project or you're well into the implementation of an initiative, it’s critical that your team is adequately thinking through “what-if’ scenarios” of potential challenges BEFORE they arise. 

Identify, as fast as you can, the potential challenges that you and your team might face. Then, based on the potential challenge,  get the right people together (either physically or virtually) and turn them loose to collaborate on the solutions. Have them create a plan of  “we will do THIS if this challenge arises”.

As a result, your team will be stronger, more confident and positioned for SUCCESS!

Challenges are coming. Will you and your team be prepared to handle them without heroic actions?