September President’s Message by Charlie Thompson
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.
We have tightened up our business practices, gotten re-focused on our precious customers and other high leverage areas. We have been taught (or reminded) what it’s like to have to grind it out to get work and make it profitable…..and do so within our values. As things start to pick up for many businesses I think about the golden opportunity that presents itself to us…..We have done and learned so much……will we retain what we learned and the practices we implanted or will they be replaced with our old habits and approaches?
As is the case with some of my past messages I will reference a good book that discusses “The Knowing-Doing Gap”. The basic message is that we have tons of knowledge and answers, but we struggle to turn that into “doing”. The recent economic pressures have forced many of us past the knowing-doing gap (nothing like an emergency to drive change). The question is….will we continue the good practices, the extreme adaptability, the appreciation of every
good customer, and the other positive behaviors into the future as the economy improves and our business begin to regain the shape that they once had?
The book is basically divided into what causes the Knowing-Doing Gap and what can be done to reduce the gap.
Barriers that create the Knowing-Doing Gap
1. When talk substitutes for action
2. When memory is a substitute for thinking
3. When fear prevents acting on knowledge
4. When measurement obstructs good judgment
5. When internal competition turns friends into enemies
Eight guidelines for action
1. Why before how: philosophy is important
2. Knowing comes from doing and teaching others how
3. Action counts more than elegant plans and concepts
4. There is no doing without mistakes. What is the company’s response?
5. Fear fosters knowing-doing gaps, so drive our fear. Beware of false analogies: fight the competition, not each other. Charlie Thompson
6. Measure what matters and what can help turn knowledge into action.
7. What leaders do, how they spend their time and how they allocate resources matters
These elements (and the detail provided in the book and in on-line articles) help create a road map for making sure that you and your people are applying the best of what you know into positive action and sustainable business results. As with any of these books and/or thoughts…..if they interest you and you want to talk I would be happy to discuss
them.
As I enter the 8th month of my term as president of our chapter I am thinking it may be time for some mid-term appreciation. I am very fortunate to have such a great board, many supporters who are not on the board but have been willing to help me, our board and our chapter, and of course extremely fortunate to have Connie for wisdom and support. We all have busy lives supporting our businesses, our families and trying to squeak out a little time for ourselves when possible. So to find time to support me, our chapter and our industry takes an extra level of dedication and commitment for which I am extremely grateful. Best wishes for a strong fourth quarter!