5 problems with reactive mode

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” We all know, intuitively, that if we don’t make and follow some sort of plan, we get stuck in a reactive mode.

Operating reactively has five specific disadvantages or risks.

1) Progress is unknown. If we don’t know where we’re going, how would we know if we’re getting closer, or farther away?

2) Satisfaction is elusive. Absent knowledge of progress, the best that can be said of a day might be “Nothing went haywire that we couldn’t fix!” While that can be an expression of relief, it’s different from satisfaction.

3) Decision quality is at risk. Without the context and guidance of a known strategy or goal, there’s no way to be sure we make right decisions. We may guess right most of the time, but it’s riskier.

4) Attention is scattered. By necessity, we focus on the urgent – and that may not be what’s most important. Operating without plans or goals leads to more - and more varied - things becoming urgent, until we’re overwhelmed and barely coping.

5) Stress levels rise. Productivity in organizations is at a very high level, as members cope with a long season of “do more, with less” as the guiding principal. When members leave, survivors take on as much of their jobs as can’t be left undone. But how long is that sustainable?

So, what to do?

Plan your future to create it. Envision the future you want, map how to get there, set goals and achieve them.

Is it that simple?

See my next blog for that.