Sell The Panel Van - Future Focus Your Team

Decisions based on the past repeat the past                                        

Beliefs

Teams and people tend to make decisions based on past experiences. 

Our perception of what will "happen next" is determined by our beliefs about past patterns and we use this perception to make decisions about the future.

Being an expert recogniser of patterns is useful in situations that you have no influence over ( e.g. prices on the ASX) 

It is not so useful if you wish to create your future because it is a reactive approach.

If you and your team are making decisions based on beliefs about the past you will merely recreate the past. (By the way, if the past was successful the future may not be, as things have changed and old methods are no longer relevant, it would be a bit like taking a panel van to bridge club - things have moved on!)

Values

If you and your team wish to create a new, more successful future then be pro-active rather the re-active

To be pro-active in your thinking and decision making you need to focus on Values (future focused) not Beliefs (past focus).

Values are adjectives (descriptive words) that describe how a team needs to BE if it is to think and behave in a way that will lead it towards its VIsion.

For instance I recently worked with a team to guide them in defining their future values. They decided on Creative, Open-Mindedness. Loyalty, Honesty, Responsiveness.

These values are now successfully guiding their decision making and actions as they move towards their vision.

The benefit to the team leader is that they will see more pro-active actions from the team, less dependency, more creative solutions and improved bottom line.

Your Teams Future Actions 

Determine the following with your team:

1) The Purpose - Why the team exists

2) The Vision - What the team needs to achieve and look like in the immediate, mid-term and long term

3) The Values - What guiding ways of Being does the team need in order to create behaviours and momentum towards the vision

4) Change your systems and procedures to support the new desired behaviours - this is where most teams and businesses fail, they forget to do this bit. How will you remember?

5) Sell the panel van

Create the Future - It's Exciting!

Kindest Regards

Adrian