Thursday, February 20, 2014

Hammer



If a strategy needs to be hammered through an organization, that alone is a sign (or more accurately an alarm bell) that the strategy is probably not a good fit.

Mention that to some executives and they'll froth on about mossbacks and people who need to evolve and how the dissenters need to get on the bus. They'll groan about the need for action.

I like action as much as anyone but have a strong preference for action that doesn't make matters worse. It's also nice to have an approach that encounters less resistance and accomplishes much more in less time than the hammer technique.

In short, if you catch yourself straining to force the famous square peg into the round hole, step back, ask why, and don't accept the easy explanation that others lack your brilliant insight.

Seek clarity, not an ego boost.

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