The Tough Ones…
Bringing clarity to an overwhelmed mind in business and in life…
Not the tough decisions…The tough questions…
I am not new to having to adjust to changes but adjusting to a new transition of operating has me thrown off for the moment. Or better yet let's say it had me thrown off for a bit and now my eyes are starting to come to a better understanding because it has been tiresome. The tiresome isn’t physical but mental because there is a transition from how I was operating to how I need to operate. Recently I started a new contract with a new facility that is now turned two facilities, and we have been working together now for a month. Its more work but that is only at the beginning stage or what I am calling THE NEW TRANSITION OF OPERATION (TNTOO). To be honest it felt like TNT with a bit of OOOOO thrown in there. Anyways, making this adjustment of how I was operating with my previous contracted facility to how I need to operate with two new contracted facilities is an adjustment.
After a month of going through the ups and downs of THE NEW TRANSITION OF OPERATION I am finally coming around to seeing what has been one of the hold ups in this adjustment. Outside of it being me it has been how I have been seeing and perceiving everything that has been happening along the adjustment. I was focused on the tough decisions I was needing to make every day with my new team. With these two new facilities the authority I have been provided with in making those tough decisions has allowed me to be the final yes or no in some situations. The thing is that with given authority there is required responsibility. I was provided with more authority to run the department, but I am also responsible for the outcome of the department and communication. With these two new facilities the business development director oversees the selling, marketing, internal and external relationship building, and financials (now and days every department is in charge of their financials you can’t escape that). The adjustment to all of this wasn’t the tough decisions but the tough questions I was failing to ask myself. I was too busy thinking of how I was to do this and that instead of asking the tough questions and answering them.
Finally, I spent half the day out in the field and spent the rest of the day at home not working but asking the tough questions. This technique actually came from my dad. He gave me this advice and something he does when he needs to step away from a project or starting a new one, and something I needed because I was at this point. I wasn’t at a breaking point, but I was at a point where I knew that I was relying on me way too much. After speaking to a good friend also in the same field I knew I needed to shut it down for a few hours. I had to shut everything down and ask those tough questions. Where are we falling short in closing deals? What internal processes can be revisited for revision? After a few hours of taking a step back to come to better understanding, the decisions were only tough because the tough questions weren’t being asked. I wasn’t taking the time to asking myself those tough questions. I wasn’t seeing these two new facilities in the eyes of the community We serve. The great thing about sometimes starting something new or taking a step back from a project for a specific time period is being able to come back and see with better understanding eyes. If these two new facilities are allowing Us the opportunity to help them with developing more business in the community, We have to also be able to see from the community’s viewpoint. Starting a new project, job, or returning back to a project there is this window of opportunity where the tough questions can be asked and answered. The opportunity for US to see from our communities or consumers viewpoint allows Us the opportunity to ask those tough questions. Why are we doing this or that and Why Not do this or that? Why is this working and Why is this not working?…Is this or that bettering the community Why and/or Why Not? The questions aren’t to be challenging questions but seeking questions. Remember authority to ask those questions comes with responsibility to provide answers…
Our new team is able to ask those Why or Why Not questions, but we are also responsible for answering those questions too. One of our given authorities is to develop relationships internally and externally that develops into continued ongoing business. In order for Us to move forward in the right direction the tough questions have to be asked so we can start developing a business relationship plan to provide answers to those questions. If we want to grow our business relationships within our internal and external communities, a viewpoint from their eyes of understanding is helpful.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (James 29:11-13)
