Stop. Look. & Listen: Great Advice for More Than Kids

Sometimes, as leaders, we want to jump in, fix the situation, or give our two cents without assessing what’s actually going on.

Why? Because we know how to fix the problem, right?

Well, maybe not.

The solution to the problem you think you see is probably wrong because you didn’t take the time to actually see the problem.

How do we fix this?

It’s easy, but not so easy, because it involves giving up a little control.

We stop, look, and listen.

HaHa! You probably thought I was about to get super deep, but nope.

Let’s take it back to when we were kids and learning how to safely cross the road.

Our parents, teachers, or guardians would tell us to stop, look, and listen to make sure it was safe to cross.

The same applies to your business.

Before you go changing things in any capacity—whether that’s updating goals, hiring or firing, adding a new product or service, etc.—be sure to stop, look, and listen.

So, what exactly does this mean? Let’s break it down.

Stop

This means don’t do anything.

I know. I get that this will be hard because everything in you says the show must go on.

But does it really?

Stopping allows you to regroup and prepare for the next step.

Look

Take the time to look at what’s going on and ask yourself these questions:

• What is the problem?

• What is a possible solution?

• What problems could this solution cause?

• What would have to change if I made this decision now?

These questions help you prepare for the next phase.

Here’s a caveat: Don’t do this alone.

Involve your leadership team. If you’re a solopreneur, tap into your community of mentors to help with this step and the next one.

You want to make sure you’re seeing things from different angles.

Many times, we’re too close to the “problem” to see the solution.

Listen

Here’s where it can hurt sometimes.

Listen not only to your leadership team but also to the people who will be doing the work.

Something may look good when you talk about it, but the person doing the work can give you insight into where things could get tangled or where the plan doesn’t align with other things you already have going on.

Never discount or ignore the people who will be making the work happen.

Truly listen to every angle. Only then should you make a decision.

The Hard Truth

Everything costs something. Whether the outcome is good or bad, there are consequences.

In business, mistakes are learning moments. However, those learning moments can cost you a lot.

To keep those costs to a minimum, we need to consider things from all angles.

When you stop, look, and listen, you build trust and show your team that their opinions matter.

Remember, your team is one of your biggest brand ambassadors.

The decisions you make affect everyone.

Let’s take the time to count the cost and wrangle the good idea fairy from time to time.

Until next time!

Remember, stay in your lane and enjoy the journey.