STOP!
Do you know what the problem is?
Whatever it is, I think it is worth the effort to take a moment to understand it.
Humans bias towards action because the action is a signal. We think that action tells the world around us that we care.
Action can signal to:
- Our stakeholders that we are paying attention.
- The family that we care
- Coworkers that we are trying
The thing is, most of the time, without understanding the problem, all that signaling is a shot in the dark. It may feel good and may make people happy, but looking at it months, and sometimes years later we realize we wasted time.
No matter how good action feels at the moment, it never feels good to know that you wasted time based on “signaling.”
What is the solution, then?
The solution is to fight against that urge. As a leader, it’s giving your team air cover so that they aren’t forced to come up with “something” at the moment, and that looks like explaining your process and gaining trust in the organization. If you prioritize ruthlessly and make promises that you keep, you’ve got a shot.
Remember, in every problem lies a solution.
From the desk of Adam Thomas 