One simple yet challenging idea that I
DID NOT learn in business school has to do with the challenging reality of
balancing “two opposing truths” in business at the same moment. How to drive growth AND cut costs? How to inspire the team AND improve productivity
simultaneously? Etc.
The idea of dealing with moments when you
have to grapple with “opposing truths” is a constant dynamic in a busy, growing
career in business today. I faced it
often at Bolthouse Farms. How to
accelerate the innovation process to be able to launch new sku’s every 6 months
while trying to simplify the production process at the plant?? How to grow share and beat key competitors every
IRI period while meeting or exceeding our profit goals?? As you can see, the list goes on!!
In my experience, the key factor is not
to deny this reality… there are opposing truths, face that dynamic don’t run
from it! The key is to remember F. Scott
Fitzgerald’s quote below and “retain the ability to function.” Don’t let this challenging dynamic slow you
down. Keep your action orientation and
tempo up. Take a look at one of my blog
essays, “Act with Intent” to give you and your team a few ideas on how to move
forward regardless of the complexity of the moment.
"The test of a
first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the
same time and still retain the ability to function."
Remember, all businesses are hard and
face challenging moments. I am sure that
you have seen that reality in your past, you probably are seeing it today and
will continue to experience it in your future.
The trick is to dive into the challenge at hand, the dynamic of “two
opposing truths,” and chart a course for action in the days /weeks ahead. Your approach won’t be perfect (mine never
was!!) but if you stay active and nimble, course correcting as you go, you will
avoid the chance for the “opposing truths” to slow your organization down and
you will increase your chances for future success exponentially!
This dynamic is not only a reality in the
business world. The 13th
century Persian poet/theologian/scholar Rumi writes:
“There is an
invisible strength within us; when it recognizes two opposing objects of
desire, it grows stronger.”
As a father who recently “dropped off”
his oldest child at college, I deeply relate to Rumi’s quote. After 18 years of nurturing your child, and
helping them prepare for the step of independence, its seemed VERY distressing
that we left him at his dorm and flew home Sunday morning. We deeply want him to be independent and
successful on his own AND we deeply miss him from our everyday home life…. “Two
opposing objects of desire!”
Whether in business or in my personal
life, I try to take inspiration and guidance from these two different
sources. Don’t deny the reality of
balancing “two opposing truths!” Embrace
the truth and explore each opposing position/side. Dig into the Paradox, but don't let the
challenge disable your ability to act.
Try to keep the perspective that these moments actually teach us a lot
about our world, our business situation and ourselves and use that “learning”
to drive you to a better outcome. Obviously
easier said than done but true nonetheless… good luck!!
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