Bunker Mentality
In tough times, many business leaders hunker down in their offices, straining to think of that magical thing to do that fixes all their problems or restlessly working to identify alternatives to the current path and plan. This bunker mentality never works, but it certainly seems to be the preferred strategy for many overwhelmed business leaders.
Here are some suggestions to increase visibility and blow up the bunker during both the toughest and the best of times:
(1)Â spend as little time as possible in your office; hold meetings in someone else’s office
(2) invite someone to the needed meeting who may not have any idea about what’s going to be discussed, and hold the meeting in their office or in the nearest conference room to their office
(3) identify something good that has happened and before starting any meeting that addresses tough challenges, go in person to show appreciation for the person(s) responsible for that goodness; that gets you in a good frame of mind for the meeting
(4) don’t talk, but listen; ask questions that generate dialogue and sit back and listen to the wisdom of others
(5) be candid and share your concerns; those that are important to your success are also the ones fully capable of accepting (and even needing) that candor
(6) at the end of the discussion, review what was said, identify any actions that can be taken, and then track those actions with those who were part of the discussion
(7) thank those who give you new ideas, and then reward those whose new ideas result in positive momentum
(8) use your windows as white boards; even the toughest of problems seem much easier to think through when you’re writing and drawing on your windows
(9) give an unexpected gift; in the dreariest of times, folks smile when they get unexpected gifts
Who knows, that epiphany that is so desperately needed may come from one of these out of the ordinary locations or unexpected contributions.