M-O-M Spells “Leader” :A Six Part Series for Leadership Success
Step 2: Preparation
Every Saturday is the same at Bootcamp Dickinson. Me and my two kids climb into our all purpose heavy duty, peanut butter proof, all terrain vehicle to start our weekly errand patrol. The destinations vary, but the process is the same. And I, as the obvious leader (because I’m tallest and can drive) am ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the operation. One stop for frozen food before we are ready to return home can make or break the entire day. The mission must be executed on time and in the right order!
Preparation is key – it starts with a list scribbled on simple looseleaf paper, each destination mapped out with what needs to be accomplished or purchased itemized beneath. I begin working on the list early Saturday morning, scratch out and re-write several times over the next few hours, and finalize it right before we are scheduled to leave.
Unfortunately, most Saturdays find the list sitting on my desk forgotten while I race the kids out the door and hurriedly take off on my errands – only to remember the missing tool as I’m standing, lost, in the middle of Walmart trying desperately to remember why I’m there.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: This time, like all times, is a very good one if we but know what to do with it.And we, as mothers, managers, and volunteers are often the one responsible for knowing what to do with the time. It’s nice to be in control, but an awesome responsibility as well: one that sometimes we’d rather delegate to anyone but us.
The leader of a group or a team sets the direction: her vision becomes the vision of all. When Ronald Reagan was President, his unwavering commitment to defeat communism became the main focus of his administration. Martin Luther King Jr. led the entire nation to contemplate his dream of equality, and to eventually effect positive change for the country.
What’s your vision? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be “big” or “important” to anyone but you and your team. Maybe you do dream of global and massive change. That’s great! Maybe you only hope to get the house clean before your dinner company arrives. Either way, essential to your goals success is the plan you put into place to achieve it.
The key to a successful plan is, in the words of Rudi Guiliani, Relentless Preparation. Prepare your Plan A, your Plan B, and your Backup Plan if neither of those succeed. Know your competition, your challenges, and opportunities. What are your weaknesses, and those of your team? What are your strengths? What training do you or your teammates need to acquire the skills to achieve your goal?
Prepare for any eventuality you can think of that could go wrong, however remote. If you prepare relentlessly when the unexpected happens, it will just be a variation of one of the events you anticipated. Rather than cripple your plan, you will be able to spring into action, respond, and proceed.
It worked for Rudi Guiliani as he faced the insurmountable task of leading the City of New York in recovering from the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center. While that particular catastrophe was not in the “plan”, the City had anticipated fire, riot, and other upheavals, the plans for which could be put into action quickly to respond to the 9-11 disaster.
It can work for you, too, as you face an insurmoutnable deadline at work or enlist the help of your family for your annual garage sale. By preparing, relentlessly for your goal, you will be ready to face anything that may thwart your success. In the words of Dale Carnegie: First, ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst.
Relentless Preparation: a critical key to becoming a great leader. And, of course, it never hurts to remember your list before you start on your mission!
Sue Dickinson is a mom, a business woman, and the founder of www.Unlimited Mom.com, a web site and e-newsletter designed to celebrate the many facets of Mom - her family, her work, and her personal development. Sue is also the author of the book: "What's a Mom to Do? Overcoming the Urge to Put Your Life on Hold", which can be purchased at unlimitedmom.com.
