Here is an article, featuring content from Chapter 5 of my forthcoming book, Leading Change: The 5 Tensions to Manage for Successful Transformation.
A Doctor’s Dilemma
In the intense environment of the emergency room, the interplay between planning and action isn’t just about efficiency—it’s a matter of life and death. My friend Joel, a seasoned ER doctor, has shared numerous stories with me, demonstrating the vital importance of both elements.
Take, for instance, the pivotal task of securing an airway in an emergency, which means inserting a breathing tube down someone’s trachea so they have enough oxygen. This procedure often involves the patient not breathing for a few moments, so it is extremely important to get it right. After years of rigorous training, doctors like Joel have learned and rehearsed a meticulously planned procedure designed to safeguard their patients’ well-being.
However, Joel has recounted moments when swift, decisive action required deviating from the plan. He has made the split-second decision to skip all steps of the algorithm and make an incision in the patient’s neck to insert the tube directly into the trachea. This is a rare occurrence, but it can be the difference between life and death.
Joel’s insights extend to his role as a mentor for interns, guiding them through the dynamic balance of planning and action in their journey toward becoming proficient doctors. Many interns arrive armed with extensive theoretical knowledge and elaborate plans for every conceivable scenario. Yet, despite their preparation, they often grapple with a sense of unreadiness when confronted with real-life patient care because patients do not always follow the textbook.
Some interns will list all the investigations that they could do for the patient yet are unable to decide what test to actually order. Joel teaches them that the role of an ER doctor includes the “decision point” where one must choose the next step forward. While planning is crucial, this decision point indicates action, which will often determine the patient’s outcome.
Conversely, Joel recounts situations with interns who, upon completing their ICU placements, show an unwarranted sense of overconfidence. Despite exposure to a variety of medical conditions, these interns lack the depth of knowledge necessary for comprehensive patient care within the unpredictability of an ER setting.
Being decisive without the full planning and training of a complete residency can be dangerous. It’s the idea that “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Joel underscores that true competence requires a methodical, planned approach based on sound medical knowledge instead of narrowly heading down one path only to realize you missed other potential diagnoses.
Joel’s experience is a great example of the profound wisdom in embracing both planning and action. While planning offers direction and confidence, action brings your aspirations to life, propelling you forward in your pursuit of growth and discovery. Whether navigating the complexities of medicine or leading an organizational change, finding healthy tension between planning and action is essential for success.
Real-Time Assessment
Reflect on the past season. When it comes to change, have you reaped the rewards of strategic and thorough planning? Have you also embraced the advantages that come from courageously taking action? Take a look at the assessment below and determine which quadrant best describes where you (and your team) are spending the most time in these days.
This article contains content from Chapter 5 of my forthcoming book, Leading Change: The 5 Tensions to Manage for Successful Transformation. Click here to download the first chapter for free now!
DIY Team Icebreaker
October Surprise
Here in Canada, our Thanksgiving holiday takes place in October. Regardless of the date
of your Thanksgiving – or if you celebrate the holiday or not – this icebreaker is a great way to set a tone of gratitude and appreciation in your team.
STEP ONE:
- Before your next virtual meeting, email each team member privately with the name of one other team member. Ensure that every name in your team has been given out – don’t forget anyone!
- In the emails, instruct participants to come to the meeting prepared to share a few sentences of gratitude and appreciation regarding the person whose name they received.
STEP TWO:
- Start your meeting by selecting someone to go first. Have them
- reveal the team member’s name that they were given, and
- share their thoughts of gratitude.
- Once they are done, whoever they were talking about (the person whose name they had) will go next.
- This will continue until everyone has had a chance to both give and receive words of appreciation.
- If a team member is missing, and as a result, someone goes without receiving kind words, simply ask the entire team to unmute themselves and offer some thoughts of gratitude towards that person.
STEP THREE:
- End the activity by sharing some words of appreciation and gratitude towards the team as a whole, appreciating the hard work they’ve put into navigating the past season with resilience.
- This ice breaker works well in both a virtual and in person context.
- If time remains, you can go around one more time and ask each team member to also share something they are excited about between now and the end of the year.
HAVE FUN!
Monthly Inspiration
“Plans are immensely reassuring to most people,
not just because they contain information but because they exist.”
William Bridges
AUTHOR, SPEAKER, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTANT
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Mike Tyson
AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BOXER
leadership development plan that will energize your team and drive results.
keynotes and workshops are designed to make your fall meetings, conferences, or events truly
transformative.
Reach out to us today, to schedule a call to discuss how we can tailor our services to your
specific needs. Don’t wait – the best time to invest in your team’s future is now!
