Succeed by asking “What if?”
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we do business. It’s caused us to review our priorities to ensure they align with what our members/customers expect from us. It’s changed our office culture and relationships and placed many obstacles in our way, but we’re coming up on the next stage of response – on the path to recovery – more resilient than we were three months ago.
Over the past three months, most of our decision making has been reactive. The next phase of response, according to leadership expert Scott Eblin, includes “reimagining what the future could be and how we’ll do work in the new normal.”
To do this, he encourages leaders to build “What if?” agendas. Here are some of the benefits of this type of thinking:
Challenging assumptions: It’s hard to move organizations in new directions. Changing the way we operate and think can take years, but the coronavirus pandemic has been an accelerant. While great leaders are often excited by the prospect of a challenge, getting employee buy-in is critical in keeping your company moving in the right direction. Asking “What if?” questions as you address problems caused by the pandemic can encourage your team to see the big picture and understand the old way of doing things might no longer be viable.
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