The Hardest Part Pays Off
If you have ever spent any time with a Scout, you know the organization’s motto is “Be Prepared”. That sounds simple enough, but the reality is that getting and staying prepared might be the hardest part of any undertaking. Here’s what I mean…
Preparation Requires Information
Before you can “do” anything, whether its a simple chore or a massive project, you need information. You have to know things like time frames, measurements, what the final product/result should be, who will be involved, what materials will be needed, and on and on and on.
Gathering and organizing that information is essential, but it’s not always easy. In order to perform well and deliver what is required, the information has to be accurate. Unfortunately, accurate information can be a moving target. Information changes. Information comes from multiple sources. Information has to be shared, evaluated and approved. Information has to be comprehensive.
The first step in adequate preparation is to determine what information is needed, where it’s coming from, and who needs to evaluate it.
Preparation Demands Anticipation
With information in hand, you cannot assume that everything will go according to plan so that’s where anticipation comes in. Good preparation includes thinking about potential issues that could delay or derail the process. You have to ask yourself, “What could go wrong”?
Then, you must answer that question with as many possibilities that are realistic. You need to expect things like illness, technology issues, car trouble, shipping and delivery delays, finances…ALL THE THINGS. As you consider all the things that could and might go wrong, you now have the information you need to map out “contingency” plans for the most likely possibilities.
For example, you are planning an outdoor event in March in an area that gets lots of rain in the spring. You have two options: 1) You plan the event and hope that it doesn’t rain that day or 2) You plan the event and PREPARE for the possibility of rain by choosing a “rain date” or having a indoor venue on standby that can be used if it rains on the original date. That’s a simple example, but it shows that an important part of preparation is thinking ahead just in case the “plan” is interrupted in some way.
Preparation Produces Effectiveness
If preparation is so hard, why bother?
Well, depending on the situation, preparation can be the difference in getting a better grade, receiving a promotion, or even life and death.
Imagine heading out for a hike, getting lost, and discovering you don’t have cell service. Preparing for that possibility by taking an actual map and compass could be the difference in being stranded for hours with night approaching and finding your way back to safety.
For students, anticipating what could go wrong with technology can look like starting on a project or assignment earlier rather than later to allow for extra time just in case wi-fi in the dorm is down and it’s 3 minutes before the deadline to submit something to a professor.
For employees, anticipating issues with multiple members of a team or department when working on an important “pitch” could mean having people briefed and ready to step in to action in case someone gets called for jury duty during the week of the presentation.
Preparation produces effectiveness because it minimizes surprises. Good preparation increases the likelihood of good outcomes and it gives you the luxury of responding to situations, not just reacting to them.
Is preparation really the hardest part?
For me, it absolutely is. I’d rather just get busy and see what happens. That is, UNTIL I get stuck because I didn’t get the information I needed or I didn’t think about how to handle the surprise that I didn’t see coming! The most successful things I do are, without a doubt, the ones that I take the take to prepare for. I’m always glad I did and I think you will be too!
