We often encounter clients who acknowledge the roadblocks to progress, but seem paralysed in their attempts to deliver substantive change.

I hear a lot of words like ‘until’ and ‘when’ and ‘if’ :

  • when the restructure is complete, we can change how we work
  • if only I could get commitment from the leaders, then we could try that
  • we just need to get the plan sorted, then we can tackle that issue
  • when we have built the strategy, we will be able to work differently
  • if only people would step up and take responsibility, then I wouldn’t have to keep fixing things up

And the reality is that we never get there- we are always waiting!

It reminds me of Judy Garland and that song – ”Somewhere, over the rainbow…..” , in the hope that our dreams can come true.

Of course the last line is quite prophetic in this context- “Why, oh why can’t I?”

Interestingly I also see a frustration from leaders in response to such comments…

  • I’m committed, how many times do I have to tell you…?
  • you don’t need to wait, we can do it now…
  • they can take the lead without us….

I’m intrigued by this dynamic, and hypothesise that experimentation could be a way to break this seeming impasse.

So what might such experimentation or piloting look like?

Rather than needing to know, to wait, to be sure, then perhaps a way forward is an ‘and’ ie to do something while still waiting and planning, etc

This would mean actioning a series of small parallel actions to address the topical issue, while still working on the roadblocks:

  • working in a new structural arrangement while organising the restructure
  • assuming commitment is there and taking some different actions based on that assumed commitment
  • trying something while developing the plan
  • trying two ways to tackle the same issue rather than relying on the favoured option
  • testing elements of the strategy before it is released
  • saying yes to something where the natural and safe option is to say no or avoid taking it on

It would seem to make sense to select small initiatives that you feel OK to try, and that wouldn’t compromise critical aspects if they didn’t work, but may inform you with alternative pathways to success.

Perhaps just ‘trying stuff’ (and living with a degree of uncertainty) can overcome that frustrating feeling that we can’t progress.