When is “close”, close enough?!

Thank you for calling GIH where we instigate growth one call at a time where we utilize antiquated technology to deliver 3-minute leadership lessons every day of the week!  This is message #87 and I am Aaron Havens.

When is “close”, close enough?

I think a brilliant answer to this question is “it depends”.  Absolutey.  There is no one answer to satisfy and serve as a uniform and unchanging answer to this question.  For example.

“In the ball park” is close enough if accuracy isn’t imperative.  When being in the vicinity is good enough… then yeah, you’re good.  If I’m aiming for the target the size of a football field… then anywhere on the field is a success.

However, 1 degree off… could be a really big deal!

Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.  There is a very noticeable difference between 1 and 0!

Pilots are taught the 1 in 60 rule, which states that after 60 miles, a one-degree error in heading will result in straying off course by one mile.  Yikes.  Just hope you were trying to fly between two mountains!

The ability to recognize when a course correction is needed could make all the difference in the world.  Just today, our business made a pretty big course correction, which when played out over the course of time… could and hopefully will mean a BIG return.  It also has the potential to get us miles and miles off course.  Knowing when to make a course correction is crazy important. 

Here are some lead indicators that suggest a course correction might be necessary.  And I would suggest paying attention to “lead” indicators versus waiting for “lag” indicators.  Time is important when it comes to course corrections.  Leading indicators are predictive measurements that can help you anticipate future events, while lagging indicators are output measurements that show what has already happened.

-lack of progress

-consistent negative feedback

-decline in performance

-resource depletion

-changing circumstances

-team morale

-gut feeling

My friends… is it about time for a course correction?

Thanks for calling in today.  Tune in tomorrow for a fresh new topic.  At the sound of the beep: Play out what you are doing.  Think about the results one year from now.  Are you happy with the current course or is a correction needed?