As we start off another new year, I’ve been reflecting upon resolutions. Resolutions for myself, my team members and my business.
I know: Resolutions – easy to make, hard to keep! But bear with me because this particular resolution is actually easier done than said. And it could be the difference-maker between a successful deal or objective and an exercise in failed expectations.
At every step in life or business, you need to make a decision between saying “yes” and saying “no.” I’ve run my own company now for 10 years, and my own personal journey during that time has included marriage, having a child, dealing with my child’s illness that seemed to come out of nowhere, divorce, growing my business, bringing new people on board and letting good people go. Like everyone, I’ve dealt with COVID and the fallout from that, both personally and in my company.
So, it has been an adventurous time; a time of frustration and success, downs and ups. In my reflections this new year, I came to realize that throughout this time, I’ve made more decisions on the “yes” side, and that has made all the difference in creating positive outcomes, for me, for my team and for my business.
Recently, though, I’ve been running into a lot of “no’s.”
Let’s start with the business first. The fact is this: To move a company forward you need “yes,” especially when “no” is the safest path. You need a yes from a willing and capable team that is ready to do the work. You need yes from a manager who is going to motivate the team to achieve its goals. And you need yes from your clients and partners to get the final product going.
How many times is “no” simply the easier answer? Both in terms of saying no to the offer and no to doing the work. But my question is always: Is “no” the right answer? I argue it is not. Not for the client, and certainly not for my team.
This all came about as I reflected on those recent situations and realized that “no” was definitely the easier, but not the correct answer.
In one situation, a high-level city manager’s team had written off my team’s request for an interview with him a number of times. Not satisfied and convinced “no” was the wrong answer, my team member pushed to get into the door. When he finally did, he found that the city manager was not only receptive to the interview, but was surprised and shocked that his team would have told us no. My team member was stunned as he watched the city manager text his team in front of him and within 30 seconds, got a positive response.
For that city manager’s team, no – even to run the idea by him! – was simply easier. The work stopped there. For my company’s goals and those of my team member, “no” was not an option. Pushing for the “yes” is what paid dividends.
Another easy “no” that can affect long-term productivity and business gains relates to scheduled meetings. Today, when meetings and appointments are blown off for the simplest reasons, it is important to fight to keep that meeting on the agenda. Even in our world, where meetings are with leading CEOs, they can be rescheduled on a whim. At that moment, it is easy – and more comfortable – to appease and say: No problem, next week? The week after? But that reschedule into the following weeks massively disrupts the overall productivity and success of a given project. I told my team members that it is imperative to reschedule that same day or the following day to ensure continued success.
Of course, to preach is not to practice. I need to also think about myself and my own decisions as I lead day in and day out. Often, I find “no” circling within my mental chatter: No, let’s do that task tomorrow. No, I don’t want to push my team today. No, let’s take the easier route. But then I check myself: easier is usually never better. Success and results come from hard work and dedication and those actions equal time and perspiration.
I’m a firm believer that nothing good comes easy and so I constantly remind myself that while it might be hard in the moment, and it might be easier to say no, I need to say yes. Overall goals and long-term targets will be delayed or dismantled by a quick “no” in the moment. Yes may cause some discomfort all around, but by leading with “yes,” my team sees the advantages and becomes more inclined to also go for the “yes.” That is what ultimately pushes our company forward.
So, my resolution for 2024 is simple: Yes.
