We live in a world of excuses, alibis, defenses, fly by the seat of your pants, charm, shoot from the hip and make $#*! up.
I would like to introduce you to a little concept called PREPARATION. It is an often forgotten word that seems to need some reintroduction.
PREPARATION begins before you arrive to a task, place or situation. It is especially necessary when you have NOT been there before. It’s importance lies in the fact that other people are counting on YOU to deliver. So here are a few things to consider:
- seek to eliminate as many obstacles to your task ahead of time
- get to know your situation
- ask others who have gone before you OR at least ask more experienced people who are around you OR talk with experienced people in the field
- use GOOGLE… it really is a powerful tool
- call ahead OR go ahead (aka: scouting)
- write the info. down that you are acquiring
- do as much work in advance as is allowed
- don’t aim to just get through but rather to excel
THINK it through — it always amazes me what can be accomplished by an individual that will settle themselves to take a few quiet moments to THINK HARD. By just looking at something from multiple angles and asking questions, YOU can probably answer a majority of the for yourself OR you can think of where to find the info. you are lacking. [ Working independently is another subject for another day ]
IF there is absolutely no known way to achieve information about the situation with which you are about to take on, then certainly, you can be expectected to confront obstacles as they arise. There is something to be said for people who have good skills to adapt & lead ‘in the moment’. BUT a great leader will always take the time to prepare for a situation when time is available.