It’s Time to Hit the Pause Button

We all know the story of the two shipwreck survivors who found themselves on a heavily forested island. While one was busy cutting his way through the thick underbrush, the other climbed a palm tree. Once on top, he noticed a boat in the distance and instructed the fellow below to change course and begin paving the way towards the boat. The man below said, “I can’t change directions, I’m busy cutting this brush.” Now while I may have butchered this story a bit, it reminds me of leaders who are forward thinkers and on the cutting edge of the market. While I applaud their intensity, focus, and courage, I would encourage them to hit the pause button on occasion and to make sure they are still headed on their intended path.

The relentless pace of change in the printing industry is certainly not for the faint of heart. However constant innovation without reflection can lead to strategic drift. Add the concept of a deliberate pause as a leadership tool.

How do you know?

What are the signs that you’re due for a pause? Perhaps there’s no clear-cut answer, but if it appears obvious, then you are probably overdue. Areas that you should take the pulse on include your family, your team members, customers, and suppliers and your ability to execute – are the trains still running on time.

What to look at

Start by looking in the mirror. Can you say that your life is in balance or is it listing to one side or the other? Get honest feedback from those who care about you. I was told long ago that this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Keeping your life in balance will go a long way to ensure you’re around for the long haul. Your family, employees, customers, and stakeholders are all counting on you. Keep things in check.

Your team is not only counting on you, but you are counting on them. They have been with you through thick and thin. How are they doing, are they still on top of their game? During this deliberate pause, make the time to reconnect with them and assess whether they’ve kept up with the latest changes in their areas of specialty. Be confident that you’d hire them without hesitation if they were applying for their current jobs. Don’t let loyalty mask any complacency that may have set in. Encourage and guide them to be the best versions of themselves for your business.

Customers and suppliers often have an objective perspective that they can share with you – if you let them. You can get some great feedback from your customers by asking them. It may be a phone call, a visit, or even a scheduled business review. Ask them for their thoughts not only on your performance, but as compared to why they began working with you in the first place. Take time during the pause to check the status of these important relationships as you are all dependent on each other for continued success. Finally, use this time to evaluate whether you have the customers you want, or the customers you need.

Customers vote with their wallets and suppliers with their level of service.

How well is your engine running, how has your performance been lately? This break in the action is a good time to take a sober look at how well you’re hitting your service level agreements (official ones or implied). How do your key performance indicators look, and have you been paying enough attention to the slow drift they’ve made from your intended goals? What’s that saying, “The faster I go, the more behind I get?”

Stephen Covey might refer to this pause as sharpening the saw – an opportunity to reset and move forward with the clarity and conviction that you are on the right path. Reach out and let me know how effective your pause is working for you.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic assessments, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.