When I was a kid working on a project with my Dad, he often said, “Looks like we will have to improvise; there is more than one way to skin a cat.” So, I learned a lot about building and fixing things with a pocket knife or other less-than-ideal tools or materials. I served 30 years in the Marines, improvising, adapting, overcoming, and innovating.
These terms vary between industries and the military, but I define them as follows: Improvising is turning on a dime to address an unforeseen challenge. Adapting is adjusting your course of action within the bounds of standard practice to address a change in circumstances. Innovating is creating a new approach or value proposition beyond standard practice. The thing that each has in common is change.
Change is the business of leaders. Whether improvising, adapting, or innovating, the leader must be informed, competent, bold, and decisive. Once the decision is made, an implementation plan must be developed and communicated effectively to the organization, fully explaining the context. Sharing “the why” in any change is essential; when innovating, it must be embraced widely across the organization. The time available may be minimal, so employing the 80/20 rule, an 80% plan executed energetically will be better than a 100% plan too late.
This week, consider how you make change in your organization and remember that change is the leader’s job.
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Remember, “all things are possible through prayer and heavy deadlifts.”™
