What do you do when a problem arises?
Whether it’s declining enrollment, shifting market conditions, or a failing marketing campaign, when a problem presents itself it’s natural to want to act fast.
But what if moving fast was a problem too?
The reality is…
Every Decision is a Trade
When we react quickly we often reallocate our resources and shift our focus away from the core activities driving our business.
It may feel good in the short-term to go all-in on fighting that fire, but fast solutions are rarely the right ones.
The reality is the faster we react to problems the bigger the problems we tend to create.
Acting vs. Reacting
The ability to act quickly is a strength.
The need to react quickly is a weakness.
It may feel good to react fast, but quickly implementing the wrong solution doesn’t solve the problem, it prolongs it.
It’s alleviating anxiety via the illusion of progress.
That’s why we need to be focused on…
Thinking Fast and Acting Slow
The next time a problem presents itself and your inbox floods with armchair calls for urgent action, don’t be shy to ask…
Are we acting or reacting?
Because even in the face of big problems time can be a tool.
Sometimes taking a breath, assessing the situation, and understanding the trade is all it takes to move from reaction to action, from prolonging problems to actually solving them.
So before you stand up and act on a problem, consider sitting down and sitting with it first.
Because chances are when faced with a problem the best thing we can do is…
Think fast and act slow
About the Author
Seth is the founder and CEO of Kanahoma, a San Diego-based performance marketing agency on a mission to build a better agency for organizations building a better world.
You can learn more about who we are and what we do at www.Kanahoma.com.