Increasing Your Pace With Coaching
We've been saying all along that once you have chosen your management team and created a plan you shouldn't wait around too long to implement your plan, and, as well, that the pace of implementation shouldn't lag, or, you're leaving money on the table. Today, that money on the table might actually represent your whole profit margin. Who wants to miss out on profits in a tough economy? Your pace of implementation speeds up if you have a coach involved to keep you focused on what is important. "Now," you say, "my plan keeps me focused. I don't need help."
Kolata talks about running the Boston Marathon. Her times didn't start to improve even though she trained regularly until she joined a coaching program related to the Marathon. She showed up for coaching - religiously. They pointed out things she hadn't considered and kept her accountable for the commitments of time and training she was making to herself. All along we have said, chose the right team, have a plan and speed up the pace. There are three ways to do that: set date quantified objectives and strategies, be ready to actually follow your plan, and finally, dump the things that aren't working quickly if it makes sense so you are able to focus on what is working. This is where coaching comes in. Chose your team using outside advice. Get more than one opinion on new hires. Hire for talent, not experience. Don't trust gut instincts. Create you plan while making sure it represents the best of what is available in your industry. Change your plan according to your own rules and - this very useful - realize that sometimes you have to keep sticking to the plan even when it isn't working. A coach will point things out from other situations - from your competition and other similar companies - that will help you keep focused. Actually implementing your plan is the first step. Making changes - informed changes - is the next step. And keeping focused on a plan that isn't delivering as much as you'd like makes sense, especially when the pay-off is long term. Building heart in a marathoner takes longer than you might think. Building share in a tough economy also takes time. Both present opportunities to take advice about implementation and opportunities for improvement along the way.
References
Kolata, Gina. Want to Go Faster? You Need a Trainer. New York Times. 23 April 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/health/23best.html?_r=2