Ultimately it’s about impact. The very best thinking has no value to anyone else until it is turned into action. That requires someone to take the first step. Be that someone. Or help someone else. Or get out of the way.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Laozi
Don’t get me wrong. Answering the BRAVE questions about where to play, what matters and why, how to win, and how to connect is important. They provide the context for action, leading up to the final question: “what impact?” This about identifying and implementing those few behaviors that will have the most impact on others.
Do
Doers are at the top of the food chain. As Jim Collins describes, people like Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Progressive’s Peter Lewis take advantage of opportunities and events to take action to improve their organizations’ positions.
Others face the same opportunities and events and choose not to act. Either they don’t see the possible connection to actions with positive impact or they don’t like the risks or something else keeps them from acting. For them, this is a safer choice. They would rather have no impact than risk losing something.
Choose do. Our first book was called The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan. It drives new leaders to act. The most important measure of success of a new leader is the impact of the actions he or she and his or her team do.
Follow this link for an overview of George Bradt’s New Leader’s Playbook and click-throughs to all the articles on executive onboarding and BRAVE leadership.
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