Why do targets fail to be met and plans fail to be realised?
Why
indeed? The problem is that most plans aren’t really plans at all; they
are simply ideas or dreams. If I said to you that I plan to run a half
marathon before Christmas at the age of 56 and I will be starting my
training soon, you would not give me much chance of success. Why? Simply
because all I have made is a statement of intention. There is no
evidence that I can run, have entered a race, have a training plan or
any information that would lead you to believe that this objective is
achievable within the timescales given, other than the fact that I have
told you.
This
illustration is relevant for business. Most business owners start off
with a vision for their future business. Few small business owners go
beyond that and often keep this vision to themselves. Fewer still have a
Plan to get to where they want to be. Failing to plan is like planning to fail. Once you have a plan, there are three key functions that need to be addressed:
Good Leadership is
vital to success. This does not mean doing everything yourself, but
rather demonstrating leadership qualities to the rest of the team:
motivation, delegation, and leadership within the organisation, not just
at the top.
There’s little point in having a plan that no one knows about, so good Communication
is also vital. This is no just about ‘what’ should be done, but ‘how’
it should be done. For communication to be most effective, it must not
just flow in a downwards direction, but rather across and between an
organisation at all levels.
If
you want something to happen you have to take action; you cannot sit
back and expect things to happen on their own. If you want a different
result, you have to behave differently; doing the same thing over and
over again expecting different results is plain madness. If you, as the boss, demonstrate ‘Negative Behaviour’, you cannot expect your staff to behave differently; never underestimate the impression you make on your staff. Be persistent.
Produce
a strategic plan for your business and pay attention to Leadership,
Communication and positive, motivational Behaviour and you are much more
likely to succeed. Most
people you will meet in life genuinely want to succeed, so if you can
get them to buy-in there is no reason why you can’t achieve your
targets.
Do
you need help with your planning? Are you uncertain about the
leadership in your organisation. Coaching can help. For a no-obligation
conversation, contact www.pcacoach.com
