What Works: Business challenges? Just keep moving!

It’s a funny thing being in the business of helping businesses through challenge. Once a client is through their challenge or transition, our work is done. Clients work with me anywhere from one month to two years. No matter how long I work with a client, there is one requirement I provide right up front. No matter what happens, keep moving.

Being strategic is one thing, becoming stagnant because an organization is caught in an education or planning loop is quite another. A company can become frozen when they prepare for too long to take action. Moving and communicating the motive of the action is the key to fast recovery from business challenges.

It’s in communication where organizations drop the ball.

Business as usual says to be silent in times of change. PR departments deflect. Lawyers say to have no comment. However, there can be a happy middle depending on the circumstance.

Understand What Is: In times of challenge, questioning beyond “how do we stop the bleeding” is essential. When you truly understand “what is” you can face it consciously. Short sightedness happens when the focus is on the problem alone and not the environment, risk, people involved, and other factors that could impact the problem. A Band-Aid doesn’t work so well if the sticky part adheres to an adjacent scab.

Look at What Is Possible: It can be easy, even somewhat comfortable, to look at what’s not possible. In many ways, it’s a protective mechanism. If we look at what’s not possible we won’t be hurt by trying it, right? Well, you won’t be hurt. But you won’t benefit from what can be done. When you look at a situation from the angle of what is possible, you see possibilities. When you look at a situation from the angle of what is impossible, you see impossibilities. Sometimes this skill is the most profitable one to develop.

Reveal the Path: Yes, more questioning. Research what is possible to develop your go or no-go scenarios. Once you get enough go scenarios, the path begins to become clear. The opportunity is unveiled in the challenge.

Do What Works. You’ve just been through a crucible. So be sure to take your learning to the next challenge, and the next. Doing What Works is about being aware of how your organization behaves when its faced with challenge. My Critical Opportunity Theory describes how to accomplish that. But the lesson is simple, if you’ve been there, done that, use the information to solve the problem faster next time.

What works for you? The floor is yours, Carson City.

SAY HELLO AND LET’S GET INNOVATIVE TOGETHER
Listen On Your Radio or Streaming: Start your week off right by listening to “Drive Time” with Diane Dye Hansen on KNVC 95.1 from 6 am to 8 am on Monday mornings. Happy, motivational music, positive spins on negative news, interviews with people in the community who can bring joy into your life. Email diane@whatworksconsultants.com if you would like to be featured as a guest and have GREAT inspiration to share on non-commercial public radio. Stream past episodes or listen live at www.knvc.org

Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs: Spring into action on your business! Entrepreneur’s Assembly, Carson City chapter meets Wednesday, August 8, 2018 in The Studio at Adams Hub for Innovation and every second Wednesday of each month. Free mastermind group. The Carson City chapter was voted Entrepreneur’s Assembly Chapter of the Year 2017. 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

NEED GUIDANCE? GET IT FREE: Motivation Monday is back at Adams Hub for Innovation with NEW HOURS – 10:30 am – 2:30 pm each Monday. Email diane@whatworksconsultants.com to schedule two free 30-minute sessions or one free hour to help you with your business – Brought to you courtesy of Adams Hub for Innovation. If your company is in transition (of any kind), please take Diane’s offer for this help.

ABOUT DIANE DYE HANSEN
Diane Dye Hansen has more than 20 years of experience in communication and change management gained in the sectors of government, non-profit, healthcare, publishing, advertising, entertainment, and technology. Her Critical Opportunity Theory helps organizations turn challenge into opportunity.

She is the president and founder of What Works Consultants, Inc., a consulting firm which helps business leaders and those who lead government and non-profit organizations understand the people who matter most and communicate to them in a strategic and meaningful way.

This is done through research, strategic communication planning, change management consulting, human resources recruitment and training. She is the host of Drive Time – Your Motivational Drive in the Morning on KNVC, Carson City Community Radio, a regular columnist on CarsonNow.org and volunteer mentor at Adams Hub for Innovation, and on the board of directors for Proscenium Players, Inc, Carson City’s longest running theater company. And, to answer your question, yes she does sleep. To meet her and learn how she and her team can help your company, visit What Works Consultants, Inc. online at www.whatworksconsultants.com.