The greatest flaw in intent is how often good intentions go bad. It doesn’t matter if you “didn’t mean to” offend someone; regardless, they’re upset and you have to figure out how to move on.
The best example of good intentions going bad is playing, currently at a theater near you. The box-office blockbuster, Jurassic World, resembles anyone’s worst day at work. You set out to do better for the company, yet something goes horribly wrong. Spoiler alert: In this case, it’s an out-of-control Indominus rex dinosaur that takes out its aggression at the cost of people’s lives.
While this may not be the reality you face on a day-to-day basis, you inevitably will experience your own form of destruction, despite your good intentions. Claire, Jurassic World’s operations manager, was only doing her job creating a new attraction to draw in more revenue for the theme park. I don’t think she intended for people to lose their lives in the process, but it happened.
So, what is one to do if you happen upon your own Indominus rex? Don’t run! Instead, here are five ways to recover.
- Have a plan. To avoid having to make repairs, start with a prevention plan. During the development stages, look for points of weakness where you feel less confident of the outcome, and patch up the cracks.
- Promote a problem-solving culture. When we get sucked into sticky situations, cooler heads seldom prevail. Be on the lookout for individuals who shine under pressure and put them up to bat when a problem emerges. You need your best on the front lines when chaos erupts.
- Keep lines of communication open. Sometimes the difference between a good outcome and a bad one has a lot to do with communication. Effective communication unites a team and, if done correctly, allows you to deal with potentially harmful issues before they come to fruition.
- Play devil’s advocate. The stress of tight deadlines often pressures us to make unruly decisions. The last thing you want is a solution that creates more bad than good. Don’t be afraid to question the plan. If something isn’t working, step back and assess the situation. What can be done differently? Stick to your guns, but be ready with plan B and C if plan A isn’t panning out.
- Learn from your mistakes. One intention can result in a number of outcomes. So, even if the outcome is bad, it isn’t a total loss. There is always something to be learned, even from the worst mistakes.
Despite your best intentions, everyone slips up at some point. Challenge yourself to incorporate the aforementioned tips into your plan so you’re ready when Indominus strikes. It may not be good advice for a summer-movie sensation, but it’s good for business.