“Don’t just do something, stand there.”- Seth Godin“
The above quote has been life changing for me after hearing it on Seth Godin’s podcast Akimbo (which I would highly recommend). How often do we feel the pressure to act? From that email in our inbox, to the customer complaint that is sent our way, the urgency of the immediate is motivating.
There are times when immediate action is the right thing, however a majority of the time reflexive action might be self-defeating. I say this out of my own personal experience, from firing off a poorly thought out email to making an impulsive call. While these actions may make us feel better in the short term, the overall long-term benefit of such decisions can be disastrous.
Immediate action has become a by-product of our ever-connected society. Have you ever not responded immediately to a text only to receive a follow up text verifying you got the first text? Most of us are not afforded the luxury of inaction. From peers to direct reports there is pressure to respond promptly and decisively. This expectation often does not position leaders to make wise decisions.
Often the further we place our selves away from the situation, the urgency of the immediate changes. The perceived crisis becomes increasingly minor in the window of twenty-four hours. A lot of this boils down to managing expectations.
Have your ever noticed how great life is when your out-of–office notification is on for your email? You have managed expectations, yes I got your email, yes it is important, however I will not be able to get to it until I return. One thing I always try to add to my out-of-office is my cell number with the message to call me if it is urgent. Do you know how many calls I have gotten since starting that practice? Zero.
Three Tips to Manage Your Action
Never respond in the moment– Allow some time to get between the event and your reaction. A day is optimal, however I understand sometimes this is not feasible, even thirty minutes or an hour. Just allow some time for the flight-or-fight response to pass. Never fire off an email in the heat of the moment. Nothing good ever comes from this.
Remember there are two sides– Even a solid well performing employee will get misguided when coming to you with information. Likely your call to action will require you to bring in someone else. The person bringing you the concern is biased. No matter how much you like and respect them, they are seeking you out for a desired outcome. Remember this.
Use a scalpel, not a chainsaw– When it is time to act, remember to use the most efficient method to get the desired response and avoid collateral damage. This needs the precision of a scalpel not the brute force of a chainsaw. Don’t cc: everyone in the organization, don’t hijack a meeting to call someone out. I have been a victim of the ballooning cc: list and it is no fun. It does nothing but engender further mistrust and disengagement. Remember in the chaos of the moment we think we are always right. Guess what? We are not.
Next time you are in a position that you feel obligated to take immediate action remember the wisdom of Seth, “Don’t just do something. Stand there.” I guarantee you will not regret this decision.