Posted by Martin Harshberger on Thu, Jun 24, 2010 @ 03:51 PM
I read a quote somewhere a few years ago that really made me think. The author said “the future is an invention anyway, you might as well invent a good one”.
If you stop and think about it, it’s really, true the choices and decisions we make throughout life accumulate to determine where we are and what we’re doing. How many times have you hard someone say, if we knew then what we know now.
Well what if we did know then? What if you actually had a vision of where you wanted to be in five or ten years, and made decisions and choices based on attaining that vision? You really would be inventing your future. Many successful people employ goal setting as a regular part of their lives. Goal setting focused on a clear vision.
Most people just don’t do that. They spend more time and effort planning a two-week vacation than they do determining what they are going to do with their lives. You wouldn't begin a road trip without a map, why would this be any different?
Many of us look back one day and realize life just happened and they are where they are by _______________. You fill in the blank, luck, fate, breaks, whatever word you choose.
Well experience has taught me that organizations function in much the same way. The choices and decisions they make everyday accumulate to determine where they are in their market, and how well they’re doing. If those decisions are made with reference to a clear vision and direction, they would find that they are indeed creating their own future.
Chapter two of my book, “Bottom Line Focus” is entitled “Start with the end in mind”. It’s aimed at helping organizations and leaders develop a better strategic planning process, drive execution, and ultimately produce better bottom line results. The point of the chapter is before you start a planning process, sit down with all of the stakeholder and determine exactly where it is you want to go.
I don’t mean some vague statement saying I want to double sales, or double margins, but a clear crisp vision of what your organization will look like in five years. What businesses will you be in, what market share, what your market differentiator will be. It should be clear enough you can articulate it to everyone. Next step is sharing it with stakeholders often.
Once everyone understands the vision clearly, all decisions, processes, incentives, investments and other resources should be aligned to attain that vision. It makes decisions easier by simply answering the questions does this take me closer or further from my vision.
If you think about it you are inventing your future. You are clarifying what you want, and taking measured steps to get there. Of course it takes a few other things like honestly and objectively determining where you are now, and developing crisp goals to get from here to there. I could put a plug in here like hiring a great business coach to facilitate the process is a great help.
The point is, invent your future by making it happen rather than letting it happen.
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Posted by Martin Harshberger on Thu, Jun 17, 2010 @ 04:08 PM
I get asked this question often, and it’s confusing because some people use the terms interchangeably.
The best way I can describe the difference is to explain what I do with my clients.
A consultant is hired to study a process or specific issue within the company, whether it’s cycle time reduction, cash flow, or whatever. He of she comes into the business, conducts interviews with the appropriate staff, and learns how the process is being completed now. The consultant then looks at what the outcome is expected to be, compares it to what it is now, and develops recommendations.
A business coach on the other hand does not take the time necessary to become a subject matter expert. He or she believes that the company management knows more about their business that he or she will be able to learn in a reasonable amount of time. The business coach facilitates a process that brings the management team together to solve the problem or issue.
Which way is better? A consultant is actually better if the problem is new to the business and the expertise, skills or experience doesn’t exist within a business. An example would be perhaps converting to a Lean Manufacturing System where outside guidance is needed for initial development and training. Hiring a consultant for a general business issue or strategic planning is perhaps not the best way to go. The consultant will need to take the time to study your market; your industry, your product and depending on the complexity this could take a lot of time. You as the business owner are paying for that time while he or she learns what you already know for the most part.
A business coach uses proven tools and processes to facilitate the outcome by using your internal knowledge and challenging you and your staff to defend your assumptions and directions. An experienced business coach will use his or her knowledge gained from other markets or industries to lead you toward new and different ways of looking at your business. This is usually much faster and less expensive. In addition the solution to the problem or the development of the strategic plan is yours, you own it and you’ve developed it with outside help. It’s not something that is presented to you in a formal document and left with you as someone else’s solution.
I do both coaching and consulting depending upon the application and the problem. If the business doesn’t have the knowledge internally I, or one of the members of my network will help them develop it. I till try to facilitate ownership of the solution to insure better execution.
For things like strategic planning, diversification, improving bottom line profits I take a coaching role. I use the knowledge available internally and provide my experience and tools to help them look at things differently and to develop custom solutions that are right for their organization.
Be careful when choosing with a coach or consultant. It’s relatively easy to get business cards printed and call your self one or the other. Look for background and a solid track record.
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