Musings on a Monday Morning from Mike Mullin…

The weekly Newsletter of Without A Vision Consultancy LLC

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April 13, 2020 – Plan Ahead Team

Good morning!

Day #34 of the COVIDs here in Central MinnesotaGood morning! Good Sabbath — Redemptive Passover — Happy holiday — Resurrected Easter! “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you…… (if you can) lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss…… hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them:  ‘Hold on!'”… (Kipling)

• How was your Seder?
  • Ours was just fine, though it was the smallest in 45 years, just the three of us; we had to substitute fresh dandelion greens for the bitter herbs… but a pretty good substitute.
  • And, we still have plenty of wine stockpiled… we should be good until winter sets in.
• “A simple home in which contentment dwells is infinitely preferable to a palace full of luxuries but without peace.”  (Paul Harris)
• You can sail safely and perfectly to your destination into a strong headwind if you have a plan and if you know the basic skills.
• What’s your plan for when we come out of these COVIDs?  Time to have a plan, don’t you think?  I can help you.
• “Maybe this will result in a new Greatest Generation.” (Wheeler)
• Here are a few ZOOM tips — helpful hints for better and more productive meetings:
  • Focus on your camera, not on others in the meeting;
  • Use a strong, purposeful voice;
  • Frame yourself wisely, take a look at how you look to others (a selfie), adjust your background;
  • Be present and mindful — this is camera body language, and yes, it matters the same as if you were around a table in-person;
  • Don’t get distracted by yourself, focus on the agenda, the camera will reveal ALL;
  • Use the chat window to elevate, enhance, and elaborate your presence.
• At this stage of the COVIDs you need a Plan Ahead Team — a work group — working across five frames (McKinsey)
  • To produce this plan, you need to confront uncertainty head-on.  Your plan-ahead team needs to work through the following five frames:
    • Gain a realistic view of your starting position;
    • Develop scenarios for multiple versions of your future;
    • Establish your posture and broad direction of travel (Without a Vision calls this directionally correct, you don’t have to be perfect);
    • Determine actions and strategic moves that are robust across scenarios;
    • Set trigger points that drive your organization to act at the right time.
      • We can’t stress the idea enough:  Speed is of the essence right now.  Your Plan Ahead Team must move fast, give you the day-one answer tomorrow, and iterate at high velocity.  If new issues or opportunities come up, add modules for your Plan Ahead Team; don’t slow down.  The next few weeks and months will shape the future of your organization — and possibly your entire industry or non-profit world.
• “The times they are a changin.'”  (Dylan)
• Test yourself; here is a little test to determine whether you are growing and learning from the COVIDs… or a bit too afraid and self-centered: (Sallam/ Snyder)
  • I think of others and see how to help them.
  • I make my talents available to those who need them.
  • I live in the present and focus on the future.
  • I am empathetic with myself and with others.
  • I thank and appreciate others.
  • I keep a happy and emotional state and spread hope.
  • I look for a way to adapt to changes.
  • I practice patience, relationships, and creativity.

This is the perfect time to be among the founders of the new normal.What are you reading:  Perfect time to re-read Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, don’t you think?What movies are you watching:  A Beautiful Time in the Neighborhood is twice or three times better than what you might think.Music?  Handl (obvi); Chopin, Tennessee Ernie Ford

• What do you get when you work with Without a Vision Consultancy LLC?
  • We listen, we learn, and then we customize our response to deliver:
  1. Confidence
  2. Clarity
  3. Coaching
  4. Companionship on your journey… sometimes it gets lonely and it’s good to have a friend.

When you tell others about me, please be sure to emphasize my unique focus:I work with individuals, governance structures (Boards), non-profits, and businesses wanting to be bigger, better, stronger, healthier, happier… yes, all five are possible and best done in concert, but it typically requires a coach (consultant) or a companion to help illuminate the path.At Without a Vision Consultancy LLC — www.withoutavision.org — we LISTEN, we LEARN, we LISTEN some more, and only then do we suggest strategic directions unique to your situation.  We do not bring a one-size-fits-all template, nor the latest flash-in-the-pan solutions, to working with you.As we work with you we deliver and provide an increase in your CONFIDENCE, and CLARITY while providing coaching and companionship for your journey.We bring more than fifty years of experience from all sides of the Board table in thirteen different leadership roles — 26 of those years as a CEO.

Everyone loves taking little quizzes; here’s one for you right now:  could you benefit from leadership coaching?

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