Hey there, Business Viewers. How’s the weather? It’s a question that everyone seems to ask when there’s nothing else to discuss. Or one might say, “Fine weather we’re having today, huh?” It’s awfully hot today!” “Looks like it’s going to rain!” Or the many, many, many variations thereof. Me, myself, I don’t care to talk about the weather, because I know there’s plenty more topics that would better serve us than to be discussing the weather. The weather is what the weather is, but “How about this economy?” “Our sales seem to be stagnant currently!” “What are we going to do about this new purchase order, since we don’t have the staff to fill it right now?” Now, I’m not saying that your every conversation should be filled with pertinent business or money discussions, but I am saying that when obvious topics that have a lot to do with our lives and the goings-on of our jobs and businesses, then we should boldly address those topics instead of looking for other unimportant discussions to take part in.
This isn’t really a discussion for decisive and proactive leaders, because they have no issues at all in understanding that keeping important discussions on top of mind is what allows everybody to be on the same page. However, there are quite a few leaders that do not feel quite comfortable speaking about uncomfortable aspects of their business. Those leaders tend to want to go on a group lunch when everybody should be having lunch at their desks trying to iron out a pressing situation. Those leaders tend to shut their office doors, or work on the complications within their business by themselves, rather than organizing the team for a meeting about the subject and putting together a plan to get on top of the situation before it gets out of hand. Those leaders tend to feel that if they don’t discuss it, it’s not as bad as it really is. Or, they go even further to believe that if they don’t discuss it at all, no one else will know it exists, and therefore they can go on looking like they’re doing their jobs effectively. However, that train of thought couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you can see that it’s raining, you better believe that someone else is witnessing the rain, as well. If the day is as hot as fish grease (my momma used to say that all the time), then you don’t have to wonder if someone in your same vicinity is feeling the same heat. You are not hiding anything, and you appear to be someone who cannot lead them to their desired destination. I bring this up, merely because, whether it be government administrations, public/private corporations, or industries and markets, it’s important to understand that whatever you might be going through, just as the weather is a temporary condition, so is the matter at hand. And while you can’t much change what’s going to happen with the weather, regardless of how much you may want to discuss it in passing, you can do something about your particular situation, but only if and when you discuss it. It may be uncomfortable; it may even be embarrassing. However, it will be on top of the task lists of all those who are needed to solve the situation, and this will ensure that everyone is on the same page and working toward a bright and beautiful day.
Until next time, plan, build, and continue to prosper.
Andre Barefield