Roberta Matuson* says failure to seek outside advice can have unintended consequences whether you’re painting the deck or formulating a new business strategy.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about why you shouldn’t try to do everything yourself and what can happen when you do.
I wish my husband, Ron, had read that newsletter.
Last week our dog, Trevor, got power washed. No, I don’t mean he had a spa treatment at the groomer.
He was on the receiving end of the spray as Ron was power washing the outside of our deck.
At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Our cute little Westie looked like a drowned rat.
My husband was too busy working on another of his do-it-yourself projects even to notice. I was left to dry off our pup.
I know my husband didn’t intentionally spray our dog, just like he didn’t intentionally spill paint on our beautiful hardwood floors when painting our daughter’s bedroom.
Yet, stuff like this keeps happening whenever he insists on taking on projects that he’s not qualified to do.
He could surely benefit from engaging a DIY coach.
Do these people even exist?
I’m a huge believer in coaching. I’ve had a coach on and off for over 10 years now and have avoided countless mistakes by working with someone who has been where I’m going.
The school of hard knocks is undoubtedly one way to learn valuable lessons, but why get knocked around if you don’t have to?
So, before you’re like Ron when it comes to critical business decisions, here are some things to consider.
Admit You Need Help
If you know you need to make a change in a specific area, and you’ve yet to do anything to move things forward, admit it, you need help.
Consider the Risks
I went along with my husband when he told me he wanted to paint our deck. I saw this as a low-risk move.
Worst-case scenario, we have to hire an expert to redo the painting.
That’s a bit different from revamping your entire business strategy, only to discover you’ve gotten it wrong.
Here’s where having a real expert by your side can save you considerable time and money.
Recognise the Half-Truths
Are people in the organisation telling you what they think you want to hear, rather than what you need to hear?
In this economy, it’s risky for an employee to tell their boss the truth.
Given the choice of transparency or continued employment, most choose the latter.
Of course, this won’t help you make the best decisions possible. Having a trusted advisor who will tell you the truth no matter what is priceless.
Many executives I’m talking to are second-guessing themselves.
They’re wondering if they’re acting too hastily or not taking action fast enough.
There’s no shame here. My clients trust me to help them make the right decisions.
You may be spending hours thinking about the same things repeatedly, which is not only exhausting but also counter-productive.
In the end, Ron didn’t do a horrible job.
However, he told me he was thinking of calling a paint company to paint the outside of the house.
I just smiled and told him it was a good idea.
Trevor, sitting on the floor listening to us, seemed to have a smile on his face.
I guess he was relieved as I was that we were going to leave such a massive project to the professionals.
*Roberta Matuson is president of Matuson Consulting which helps Fortune 500 companies and high growth businesses create exceptional workplaces leading to extraordinary results. She can be contacted at [email protected].
This article first appeared on Roberta’s blogsite.
