Each Sunday, our goal is to share a piece of gold with you. Some small piece of information that helps you to have a better week and achieve a better outcome.  

One of the hardest things to deal with in life is when the unplanned occurs. How do you prepare your business when you cannot predict the future?  

I have learned this the hard way in the management of technology. When you have over 15,000 devices under management, stuff happens… and it is never when it is convenient. This has been a challenge that we have had to focus on for years. Here are a few things I have learned that have helped my team become more capable in planning for the unplanned.  

  1. Learn to control your emotions (frustrations). When s**t hits the fan, it does no good to add more to the pile. Know that things will always come up and the reason you are in your role (personal or professional) is that you are the right person to impact it in a positive way. Keep in mind that most major issues strengthen people and organizations. 
  2. Take the time to consider what is likely before things come up. That could be a discussion about the week with a spouse at home, considering key personnel turnover at work, or a major financial meltdown. One of the wonderful wizards in my life shared that when building a budget, you should have the “best-case scenario,” the “worst-case scenario,” and the “most-likely scenario.” I think this can be applied to all aspects of planning for the unplanned. 
  3. Know your data. Whether this is personally, or professionally, there are data and facts that will help you to prepare. The data always tells a story. If your challenge is in sales, industry trends, employee retention, or something more specific, there is always data to help find what to expect. Sometimes it take months or even years to begin to see the trends within a business, but they do always materialize. From trends in your industry, trends in the economy, or even trends of kids getting sick at school, the data is there. If you don’t have the time to research data or experience in data management, there are sites like Fiverr where you can hire data analysts to help normalize or evaluate data.
  4. Always know the priorities in advance. In technology, it is very challenging to know what the priority is at the moment of a failure. However, when we plan for the failure, we can prioritize ahead of time and be ready to take the necessary steps when it happens. Identify what is critical, what is important, and what is remaining. This is consistent with financial troubles, personnel turn over, or the daily “life issues” that arise. When you have a plan for the daily, weekly, and monthly activities, it is easy to focus where it matters most. 
  5. Lean on those around you. I’ve often been hesitant to “bother people” or impose. However, people love to help. When there is a major issue, never face it alone. Surround yourself with the right team and face it together. When you pull people together, you’ll begin to uncover the challenges, frustrations, common themes, and opportunities. Ask open-ended questions. Taking the time to listen always pays dividends. You’ll be amazed at what can be accomplished.  
  6. Join a peer group. All organizational types have others in their field or stage of business. From startups to industry vertical, finding a data driven group will serve you well. This investment of time and money has resulted in better culture, better performance, better company value, and better alignment towards a purpose. I cannot state how important it is to find a meaningful peer group that drives meaningful outcomes to your business. If your group becomes too social, find a group that focuses on results.
  7. Communicate clearly and often. Humans are creatures of habit. When things interrupt the expectation of normal, stress gets very high. Discuss and agree upon a communication plan and stick to it, even if there is nothing new to report. This could be as simple as a text every thirty minutes and a phone call at three hours. The “not-knowing” and wondering is often more stressful because we all make up worst-case scenarios. A simple update goes a long way towards helping people deal with the challenge.  

Unfortunately predicting the future is still science fiction (for now), but by taking steps in advance, having a framework for a plan, keeping a cool head, and communicating clearly, the bad or crazy stuff that pops into our world can be managed at a much better level. Once you have industry data, internal data, feedback, and your own instincts, you will start to compile a predictive model that helps to see what you need to be prepared for. Life will always introduce new challenges;. we just have to know it is our responsibility to lead through them.  

The goal of Adapt or Die is to build better leaders who run better companies and change the world. “Better leaders” doesn’t just mean in the office, but at home too. If you’d like a copy of our Perfect Week Template, purchase your copy of Adapt or Die here and then go to adaptordie.com/assets to get started. I hope you enjoy it and figure out your perfect week!   

PS: Great news! The audiobook version of Adapt or Die is now available. Get it from Amazon or Audible here.