http://www.adaptstrat.com/blog/index.php/feed

Saturday, 19 of May of 2012

Print

How does a “prepared mind” prepare?

No Gravatar

I’m working on a new book project that is based on applying Louis Pasteur’s quote of “chance favors the prepared mind” to the realm of hospitals and other healthcare providers. And one of the stumbling blocks has been answering the general question of how does anyone prepare for an unknown future. So I sat down and wrote whatever came into my mind.

Here is my initial list. I’d appreciate additions that you might make to this draft. “We prepare for the future when we …..”

  • go to school
  • learn something new
  • practice
  • watch game films
  • play war games
  • build scenarios
  • focus on goals
  • do contingency planning
  • conduct rick assessment
  • ask questions
  • send probes into the unknown
  • “get in shape”
  • experiment
  • study failures

What would to add to my list? I REALLY want to know! (It will help me break a writers-block that’s driving me nuts!)

Date: February 24th, 2009 @ 14:42

Author:

Categories: Prepared Mind

Tags: ,

Leave a Comment

  • CommentLuv badge

Comments RSS TrackBack 17 comments

Brad ShorrNo Gravatar

in February 24th, 2009 @ 15:08

learn more about the past
question our assumptions
let go of our fears

BillWelterNo Gravatar

in February 24th, 2009 @ 17:01

Brad, Great additions – thanks

KenNo Gravatar

in February 25th, 2009 @ 15:36

What works for me is to read. “Read what?” you might ask? I don’t think it matters. Obviously, you want to read information from your industry. But, it can be surprising what can happen by reading biographies.

You are looking to solve a problem or preparing to reach that next level in your career. How did Jack Welch, the CEO of GE, solve a problem? What road blocks might you need to be prepared for as you face your future?

You will find that business has similar problems whether you are building trains or selling coffee. The goal is to find a customer, get their attention, create desire in the customer and then close the sale.

Then on the back end produce the product to exacting characteristics again and again and again. How do they do it in a coffee shop and does it translate into your business?

So I would add reading and thinking to the discussion.

BillWelterNo Gravatar

in February 25th, 2009 @ 17:04

Ken, Great additions to the list. Thanks.

Scott JacobsonNo Gravatar

in February 25th, 2009 @ 17:07

Evaluating and learning from the past. This is most helpful when looking for patterns rather than just the specifics of one situation.
Do something different
Consider new assumptions
Put ourselves in new situations
Observe others
Talk with a child (I am always more optimistic and hopeful and these are important elements to preparing for the future

BillWelterNo Gravatar

in February 25th, 2009 @ 18:35

Scott, Thanks for the additions. I particularly like the idea of lookin gfor patterns.
Bill

Scott JacobsonNo Gravatar

in February 27th, 2009 @ 15:40

Bill, I was thinking more about your question and I kept thinking about rest.
In the same way that an athlete can over train I think we can over prepare for the future.
One way that might play out is if we are too keen on analyzing a situation we may limit our ability to observe.

KenNo Gravatar

in February 28th, 2009 @ 09:22

@Scott – I agree with your comment about rest. Taking it from another perspective, I know many times I have been wrestling with a new idea or work issue and appearing to get nowhere.

Then I go out with friends, play with the kids, go on a weekend retreat or go see a movie and seemingly from out of the blue the problem has been solved. My mind couldn’t seem to focus on it until I quit thinking about it.

BillWelterNo Gravatar

in February 28th, 2009 @ 09:44

Scott and Ken,
Agreed! Now think about the most common complaint we hear these days — “I’m going 24 x 7! I don’t have time to slow down.” It seems to me that the business world’s quest for efficiency has made us less effective.

Jeanine HansenNo Gravatar

in March 4th, 2009 @ 19:41

Perseverence… the stick-to-it-iveness to believe in something until the door opens.

Along with this… patience. Having a long term view and not being reactive for short term gains.

BillWelterNo Gravatar

in March 5th, 2009 @ 09:03

Jeanine,
Thanks for your additions. It seems that perseverence and patience are put to the side in today’s “24X7″ world. That puts us to a secondary issue — actually taking the time to prepare. It won’t happen by accident!
Bill

Jeanine HansenNo Gravatar

in March 5th, 2009 @ 17:58

That’s right – I think the biggest message is that it doesn’t happen by accident… people work, dream, study, research for years to get that one “lucky break.” If you’re not looking for it, prepared for it, dreaming of it, you won’t see it if it hits you in the face!

Joanna YoungNo Gravatar

in March 9th, 2009 @ 07:43

Build teams and relationships based on trust, respect and adaptability – so people continue to work together well even when things change, because the core thing that connects them together is still there.

Bill WelterNo Gravatar

in March 9th, 2009 @ 10:02

Joanna,
I like your opening descriptor of “trust.” I think great teams work so well (and see the future) is because they trust each other to raise the awkward issues.

Karen SwimNo Gravatar

in March 10th, 2009 @ 18:04

Bill, the Louis Pasteur quote is one of my favorites. I spent more than two decades working in Healthcare and am passionate about the industry, healthcare providers and its impact and interaction on with the consumer. I would add to your list to spend time in the now brainstorming and imagining the “what ifs.” When we imagine the future and embrace the unknown of tomorrow we not only make room for focused innovation but prepare ourselves for what may come.

Bill WelterNo Gravatar

in March 12th, 2009 @ 06:54

Karen,
I agree wholeheartedly! When Jeanie Egmon and I wrote The Prepared Mind of a Leader we identified a number of needed skills. Imagination is one of the eight we identified. Unfortunately, it is one of the least used in most organizations. That is such a pity when you consider how imaginative everyone was as a child. I think that all adults need to get back in touch with the nine year old kid living in the back of their minds.

TrackBack

Welcome Bill Welter, New Blogger

[...] check out Bill’s blog and get to know him. Maybe you want to take a crack at his question, How does a prepared mind prepare? Or perhaps take a shot at this: Have you crossed the Rubicon [...]