Want to get things done? Erase "MAYBE" from your lexicon.

If you happen to know anyone who has come out of the General Electric "machine" you will have undoubtedly heard of, and/or experienced a "workout". The original workouts came into being as Jack Welsh, the CEO at the time, was working to right General Electric. Workouts went something like this*: a team (not including the leader) would meet to review all the issues and questions that needed to be answered to progress various projects, mandates or agendas forward. The leader would then join the rest of the team and systematically answer their questions with "YES do it", or "NO don't do it", or "I will get back to you with a YES or NO answer in a week". This initiated action.

There is a truism regarding effective execution: All action is derived from either the word "YES" or the word "NO"  and any other word will lead to a vast array of inaction.

As a quick illustration** let's look at the manual outlining what to do if you see a "strange flying saucer-like thing in the air". I'm sure it doesn't read like this:

• "YES" push the red emergency button.            (Action)
• "NO" don't push the red emergency button.     (Action)
• "MAYBE" push the red emergency button.       (What exactly do you do with this?) 

If you look at any process map or decision tree there is never the option to choose "MAYBE" because it is very hard to know what action to dive next when you hear the word "MAYBE" (or any derivation of it). 

I suspect about now someone may be saying, "Wait a second, sometimes you have to say "maybe" because of a lack of information, poor timing, lack of resources, etc". 

The reasons outlined really justify the answer "NO", and these suggested reasons for "MAYBE" are more a reflection what action is needed next to stop what is currently being done, or what is needed to garner a "YES" decision. "YES" and "NO" drive the process forward, while "MAYBE" keeps everything in a holding pattern... forever spinning and spinning.

"YES" and "NO" are also great data points to measure execution effectiveness. 

The more you find the word "NO" being used in the decision making process, the greater chance you may have:

• skill set issues 
• resource issues 
• time management issues 
• misalignment with goals 
• risk tolerance issues, or a culture that struggles to drive action 

If you hear "MAYBE", you can guarantee you have one or all of the above.

There is an ambivalence that comes with the word "MAYBE" and it will insidiously compromise decisiveness (which is so important in good leadership) and will feed the emotion of regret. The words "woulda, shoulda, coulda" will stick to you.

So throw the word "MAYBE" away! It will serve you well, and things will get done.

iamgpe

www.gpestratagem.com 

* I have not experienced the original "Workout", but have been involved in many of its "workout cousins"; sometimes affectionately called a "deep dive".  I've also simplified this, and taken a little artistic licence to stress the point. 

** This flying saucer sighting example struck me funny. Apologies if you didn't think so.