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Jeff Colvin
Management Consultant & Founder of Link,
a Management Consulting Group
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Three
times in the last month I have heard the phrase, "No rain,
no rainbows." It inspired me to write this month's article.
Here is the message up front, so you don't have to skip to the end
of the column… Make a rainbow happen!
The culmination of much of my management advice is summarized by
statements such as take control, manage your own fate, think and
act positively. It is now mid-year of a number of years in a down
economy. It has been "raining" for a very long time. Too
long for some, that have been washed out or away by the deluge of
bad news and/or bad investments in both time and money.
But there are glimmers of light coming through the rain. It is
summer time and there are signs of recovery; like streams of sunshine
poking through the cloudy skies. If you want to see the rainbow
you can't stand still in the rain. You must put the sunshine between
you and the rainy place that you have been.
A rainbow is manifest only by your relative position to the sun
and the rain; the past economic challenges and your recovery strategies
today. Once again… you are in control. The brilliance of a
rainbow and the cliches that go with it can all be yours, including
the pot of gold.
First get out of the rain. Do this by recognizing and admitting
to yourself that you are getting wet and that the rain is not going
to stop by itself. This is the crux of any positive change; the
willingness to accept the fact that you are in charge of your own
destiny and that any real good that will come about will be due
to your own efforts.
Decide that you are going to do something to change the weather.
It starts with a vision of what a recovery looks like. Then you
must understand the sources of the rain and define a path to get
out from under it.
Next, do something different, and follow your path until you see
some light and can follow it. This requires some risk and creativity
but beats waiting for a higher force to change the weather. Finally,
be true to your path and be willing to adjust your bearings until
the light gets brighter.
The phenomenon of a rainbow occurs when you position yourself correctly
between the rain (your past challenges) and the sunshine (your future
opportunities). Aligning yourself with a plan for economic recovery
and keeping perspective on the historic doldrums will allow you
to make your own rainbow without getting wet or burned.
As individuals in companies begin this personal search for economic
recovery, so too will their companies. The mentality will be contagious,
and we will begin to rebuild the next generation of productivity.
It is really up to you to take the summertime blues and turn them
into magnificent rainbows. During the rain a certain majority of
the population will just wait for the downpour to stop. They may
even get wet and complain about the dreary weather and the lack
of sunshine. Others, like you, will seek to find the sun, re-position
themselves, follow their personal rainbow, and discover their own
pot of gold.
Make a Rainbow Happen
Get out of the Rain
- Admit that its raining
- Decide to do something about it
- Plot your path out of the rain
Find the Sunshine
- Hone in on a glimmer of light
- Stay true to your path
- Adjust your direction as necessary
Put Yourself in the Right Position
- Remember where you have been
- Keep yourself between the rain and the sun
- Don't get burned
- Appreciate the wonders of nature
Jeff Colvin (Jcolvin@linkllc.com)
founded Link, a management
consulting group in 1997 whose mission is dedicated to the Systems,
Structures, and Behaviors that make people and companies successful.
Link's bottom line focus on process improvement is achieved through
the facilitation and training of cross-functional teams to address
key strategic goals. Learn more about Jeff
Colvin & Link...
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