Pressure and our COMFORT ZONE ! ! !

I know a golf pro that tells of an observation he has made through the years on how an amateur golfer responds to PRESSURE. . . He tells of one person that he helped all year develop his putting stroke to one that was more consistent and suited for the player. Then it is the final hole of the club championship and all his pupil needs to do is make a six-foot put for birdie and he wins the match. He watched as the golfer studied the putt and then stands over the ball prepared. He then steps back looks at it again and this time stands over the ball with the old grip and stance he had worked so hard to conquer. . . and not only missed the putt but missed the three footer coming back. "The pressure got to him and he choked. He did not follow through on the improvements he had made and it cost him the match."

You can see the pressure is on so many companies and organizations right now. There is no denying it that the simple uncertainty is causing an anxiety to take place that has people "stepping back. . . looking at it again . . . and going backward to what is comfortable." Going back to an old way of doing business, even though it might not be the right choice. . . it is where we are comfortable. What could going back be in business?

- Dropping a great improvement to a website.
- Stepping back from product innovations that would create an advantage.
- Stopping a training program or employee initiative.
- Cutting back on planning meetings
- Not investing in the technology that could help
- GOING BACK TO WORKING LONG EXCESSIVE HOURS IN ORDER TO NOT LOSE
- Adopting the old 'drill sergeant' management style after spending several years developing a more coaching proactive style that has worked

The list could go on and on. It simply centers around going backwards, thinking it will move us forward.

Jim McCutcheon of HIGHGROVE PARTNERS, in ATLANTA, said in a recent webinar we hosted, "These are the times where great companies are made." Let's you and I think about that the next time we are considering retreating to our COMFORT ZONE!

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS . . . GIVE A COMMENT BELOW ON WHAT INITIATIVES YOU ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE TO DO . . .

GO GET EM
JIM PALUCH
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