Connect. The Network Media Partners blog.

The best way from Point A to Point B is not always a straight line

January 12, 2010

For leaders, sometimes the path is unknown

There is no more status quo. No more resting on past successes or letting history speak for itself. No more ‘This is how we’ve always done it.’

Change is not just a buzzword. It’s the catch-all we use for trying something new or doing something differently, and whether we succeed or fail, there’s no doubt everyone agrees that change is necessary. In order to survive, a business–or an association–needs to be agile. But what does that really mean? What if your leaders are type-As who exist merely to plan, plan and then plan some more?

In a climate of change, is pure planning really going to get us there?

We think that if you keep your ultimate goals in mind, if you remember what Point B is, then the steps you need to take to get there will get figured out along the way. And the leader who is most likely to get your team to that destination will not rely solely on their plan, on their want for control of the situation, or on their past experiences.

The right leader will try new things and encourage their team to try new things. The right leader will not always know the answer. If you keep your lofty goals in mind, it’s OK not to know. The trick is to try and to figure it out. And hopefully you will figure it out together, so that when you do make it to Point B, your entire organization is stronger for it.

–Jen Smith, Creative Director, Network Media Partners

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