Why did you wait?
It’s a simple question, but it’s a question that has repetitiously been asked of businesses and leaders who have sought help, support and expertise when they’re least able to respond to the challenge.
Reaction vs Response are two terms that characterise the way people and businesses can act in relation to market conditions, and unfortunately, “reaction” is overrepresented through our experience.
So what’s the difference?
A reaction is an act of force, an action based on factors and conditions in the moment, and typically circumstantial, which overwhelmingly leads to decisions that address the short-term pain, but have long-term ramifications because a reaction is often in the absence of choice, leading to unintended outcomes.
Response, on the other hand, is the action of gathering and synthesising the evidence, understanding the problem, identifying a solution, allocating resources and taking pre-meditated action towards an intended outcome, sustaining success!
So why are so many businesses stuck in a cycle of reaction and rectification?
When you are most capable and have the availability of capacity, capability and liquidity, the drivers of change, the appetite to invest are suppressed. The lesson here is that the time to act and respond to market changes, is in the good times, when things are ok, when you’re not feeling the pain.
And for those that are starting to feel the heat but lack the desire to commit resources because you’re “too busy”, will you wait until you no longer can and simply react to the forces at play?
Is it time to act? Acknowledge and respond to the challenges, commit the resources, and address the challenges so you can respond to succeed with the desired outcome.
Let’s not wait for the inevitable result of inaction, there’s never been a better time than now!
James Orr