9 steps to excellence in a pandemic

Scott Couchenour Nov. 9, 2020

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Okay, so we all know the pain and discomfort that the pandemic has produced. There's even talk now of what is called "pandemic fatigue."

Enough of the talk about the negative aspects. Let's get down to business on what is within our control. Let's talk about possibilities.

Jeff Thull, in his book, Mastering The Complex Sale, refers to what he calls the "Bridge to Change." It's a fantastic methodology for any organization that needs to make changes to stay viable.

I'd like to take it a step further into the life of the individual leader/entrepreneur — you.

THE 9 STEPS

Here are the 9 steps and the associated questions. Note that each step builds on its predecessor. I'll list them here and then follow with more detail on each one. Lastly, I'll pull it all together and share my opinion as to why you need to pivot in the pandemic.

1. Your Objectives. What is the main objective of your life, your personal mission?
2. Critical Success Factors. What has to go right for you to succeed? What is the measurement of your success?
3. Responsibilities. What are you, personally, responsible for in relation to the specific critical success factors?
4. Worry List. What may go wrong in relation to these specific responsibilities?
5. Indicators. What may cause the worry to materialize?
6. Causes. Why does the problem, verified by the indicator, exist?
7. Consequences.What are the consequences of the problem resulting from this cause?
8. Expectations.What is your desired outcome or state after eliminating the consequences?
9. Solutions.What would have to take place to make the expectation a reality?

1) YOUR OBJECTIVES

Everything starts with a vision, a mission. If you don't know where you're going, pretty much any direction will work just fine. But you're different. You want to accomplish something big with your life and influence. What is that something big? You have to be clear on this like no other time in history. Change flows at an alarming pace right now — it's an election year, racial tensions, and oh yeah, a global pandemic. You HAVE to know where you're going and what you're all about.

Grab a piece of paper or your favorite note-taking app. Jot down your personal life mission.

2) CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

With your objectives in mind, what has to go right to bring these objectives into the light of day? How do you have to be spiritually, financially, relationally, emotionally, physically, and vocationally? These are the measurements of the foundation. This foundation is what you build your objectives upon.

List these success factors below your personal life mission.

3) RESPONSIBILITIES

As you already know, in any endeavor, there are factors out of your control and factors within your control. The latter need to be listed as they relate to each of the Critical Success Factors.

Below the success factors, write down what you must personally do to achieve those factors. (Also, list the items outside your control and consider how you may indirectly influence them to happen.)

4) WORRY LIST

What may go wrong as you pursue this life mission? What threatens your success? What could torpedo your efforts? Let your mind go wild.

Under the list of personal responsibilities, write down your worry list items.

5) INDICATORS

What may cause the worry to materialize? If the worry were to start showing up, what would it look like? Think of early warning signals.

Below the worry list, write down the indicators for each worry.

6) CAUSES

Why does the problem, verified by the indicator, exist? If the worries on the list were to manifest, what is the cause? What would have to happen to create the indicators of the "worry" item?

Below the indicator list, write down the causes for each indicator.

7) CONSEQUENCES

What are the consequences of the problem resulting from this cause? If the worry manifested itself, what would you have to deal with or overcome? How would it change your life? Would it delay your success? Would it eliminate the possibility of your success?

After the causes, list the consequences.

8) EXPECTATIONS

What is your designed outcome or state after eliminating the consequences? For each consequence, what would the outcome look like? How would you be different after the consequences than you were before them?

For each consequence, list your preferred outcome if you were to solve the problem.

9) SOLUTIONS

What will have to take place to make your expectation a reality? If "point A" was you sitting amid the consequences of the worry manifested, and if "point B" was you sitting amid the expected problem solved, the solutions would be the path from A to B.

Below each expectation, list the things that would have to happen to get you back to your expected state.

APPLICATION

If you know what you're all about (your true north), what has to happen for you to succeed, and what your personal responsibilities are, you're halfway there. Those first 3 steps set the stage for the remaining 6 steps.

The remaining steps are a blueprint to handle everything that could go wrong. This is like listing the opportunities and threats in a SWOT analysis but taking it a step further to map out the path to success by incorporating a plan with your strengths and weaknesses in mind.

NOTES

That's a lot of work, I know. But work that's definitely worth the investment of mental energy and time. Notice what it does. It causes you to list everything you can think of that could go wrong. Not only that, you now have a plan if anything were to go wrong. And not only that, you now have early warning signs to nip the problems in the bud. There's nothing like having a sense of control within you as opposed to being controlled.

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Scott Couchenour has a combined 30 years of experience in ministry, business and entrepreneurship. He has the perspective any leader needs to grow further in their personal and professional life. Scott served as COO and CEO for a national multi-million dollar family-owned business. He has served in his local church as worship leader and various leadership positions. He serves as Trustee on the Nazarene Foundation Board, the Nazarene Theological Seminary Board, and Harmony Village Board. Learn More »

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