You’ve made assumptions.

Plenty of them.

There was some missing information.

You filled in the gap.

You interpreted.

Made connections.

But incorrectly so.

How did that happen?

The connections were erroneous.

The interpretation off.

The gap inappropriately filled.

Check your assumptions.

Ask questions.

Ask more questions.

Test old information.

Take in new information.

Remove the need for assumptions at all.

“Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong.” – Albert Einstein

“You proceed from a false assumption. I am a Vulcan. I have no ego to bruise.” – Spock (Leonard Nimoy)

You can be more efficient.

The team can do it faster.

The organisation can streamline processes.

It can be better.

Improved.

But there is a bigger question.

Does it need to be done at all?

Whatever it is.

Do you need to be doing it?

Prioritise.

Stop doing it altogether.

Does the team need to be doing it?

Automate.

Reallocate.

Does the organisation need to be doing it?

Strategise.

Outsource.

Answer the bigger question first.

“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” – Peter F. Drucker

“It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau

That thing, that task, is not going away.

The deadline is approaching.

It cannot be deferred.

Everything else will have to wait.

Later has become now.

It can no longer be avoided.

No longer put off.

It has been postponed enough.

It cannot be ignored anymore.

There can be no more distractions.

Time’s up.

No more procrastination.

There’s no more time to do so.

“You may delay, but time will not.” – Benjamin Franklin

It’s healthy to be self-aware.

To reflect and to critique yourself.

But don’t beat yourself up.

You are likely your own harshest critic.

Your inner voice can be a bully.

Excessive self-criticism is destructive.

Beat the beat up.

Nobody is perfect.

You will make mistakes.

You are only human after all.

Learn from the failures.

Own them and move on.

“Remind yourself that you’re bound to get better. Don’t get down on yourself. Don’t beat yourself up. It’s the next opportunity that matters, not the last one.” – Jim Rohn

Set the scene.

Set the mood.

Set the tone.

Set the expectations.

Set the date.

Set the bar.

Set the record straight.

Set the example.

Set the limit.

Set the stage.

Set the alarm.

Set the pace.

Set the direction.

Set the world on fire.

Set yourself up.

Ready … set …

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” – Rumi

It’s effective to understand the process.

To know the end-to-end details.

The manual way of doing things.

Being intimate with each step.

It’s efficient to understand the hack.

The macro.

The technique.

The timesaver.

The strategy.

The technology.

The method.

The experience.

The system.

The shortcut.

The skill.

The hack.

Let’s …

… lay all the cards on the table.

… get everything out in the open.

… not beat around the bush.

… get down to business.

… cut to the chase.

… bring everything to light.

… say what we mean.

… talk turkey.

… get to the point.

… tell it like it is.

… give the lowdown.

… speak frankly.

Then we can proceed and progress.

“Speak the truth. Transparency breeds legitimacy.” – John C. Maxwell

Waiting for permission.

Waiting for the right time.

Waiting for an opportunity.

Waiting for them to say yes.

Waiting for a clear path.

Waiting to act.

Waiting for certainty.

Waiting for things to happen.

Waiting to take time off.

Waiting for the fear to go away.

Waiting to be picked.

Waiting for it to get better.

Waiting for it to be worse.

Waiting for … fill in the blank.

What are you waiting for?

Stop waiting.

Give yourself permission.

“Are you waiting for success to arrive, or are you going out to find where it is hiding?” – Napoleon Hill

“Don’t wait for change. You change.” – Earl Nightingale

You have done everything you can.

You have …

… queried.

… questioned.

… listened.

… learned.

… examined.

… observed.

… consulted.

… communicated.

… clarified.

… confirmed.

… persuaded.

… encouraged.

… influenced.

… informed.

… guided.

… coached.

The outcome though, is not in your hands.

Now it is up to them.

“When we tell people to do their jobs, we get workers. When we trust people to get the job done, we get leaders.” – Simon Sinek

“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.” – Sheryl Sandberg

You have created the expectation.

The group is hyped up.

There is an energy about the place.

Everyone is motivated.

People are looking to push forward.

Looking to deliver and get things done.

Great!

Now for the real work.

You need to back it in.

Follow it through with the same energy.

Otherwise it will start to unravel.

The enthusiasm will slow and erode.

The energy is sapped.

Until the expectation is not met.

Sure, you could create another expectation.

Though next time they will be wary.

Better to follow through that first time.

Then you will get to do it again.

And again.

“Expectation is the root of all heartache.” – William Shakespeare

“Life is largely a matter of expectations.” – Horace