Is It Better To "Stick To Plans" Or "Adapt To Change?"

Is It Better To "Stick To Plans" Or "Adapt To Change?"

Perhaps it’s nothing more than the predictable “Red Herring” politics. Maybe its just another typical “straw man” issue, disingenuously set up, only to be aggressively knocked down by the same side that originally hoisted the matter in the first place.

But when you grow up in a society that basically has only 2 major political parties to choose from, you tend to hear that “Flip-Flop” word thrown around by both sides of the isle pretty much non-stop!

Question: Is it always better to meticulously adhere strictly to the preconceived plan no matter what changes occur in the surrounding circumstances?

Equally significant, is it truly a sign of being weak, impetuous, flaky and without any moral or principaled compass to be willing to observe significant alterations occurring all around and therefore decide to alter or even completely abandon the original charted course that was designed previous to arrival of the newest, latest data and facts?

These important questions apply just as significantly when you are discussing the world of business, as they do in a debate held within the field of politics.

Seems to me, too many people are being falsely accused of “Flip-flopping” or “waffling,” from their original stated strategies or business plan, when in fact, all they are doing, is perceptively taking the latest data regarding the ever changing factors that are occurring all around them and altering their map based on the latest lay-out of circumstantial reality.

These wise folk are in no way “Flip-flopping” or “waffling,” from their original stated strategies or business plan. All they are doing, is perceptively taking in and deciphering the latest data regarding the ever changing factors that are occurring all around them and then appropriately altering their map based on the latest lay-out of circumstantial reality.

If I know precisely where it is that I want to arrive and I confidently map out the surest, safest, fasted course to my destination and set sail, only to discover halfway through my journey, that the tides have suddenly severely changed, the winds have altered dramatically and there is a giant “perfect storm” raging directly ahead, am I automatically considered a flaky weakling if I change my course?

Would it truly be a sign of strength, honor, experience, power, and decisive commitment to ignore the new information and continue to sail my ship and all it’s crew, passengers and bounty directly into the swelling gales because “that course” is exactly the one I said I was going to take when I left 23 days ago?

The truth is, a smart Captain, a successful Captain, a much respected and trusted Captain that has lived to sail 1,000 journeys is the one who is willing, if need be and the circumstances call for it, continuously “alter the coarse,” specifically to ensure that everyone arrives safely to their charted destination.

The path might dramatically change over the trip, but still, the eventual outcome is precisely the exact one that was planned for before the ship ever left dock.

The fact is “NOT” being willing to alter your tack in order to effectively compensate for the continuously changing conditions that befall you while you are out there making your way across the raging seas, is actually a sure fire way of eventually ending up completely off coarse or shipwrecked, crashed out on the heartless jagged rocks, with no sign of salvation in sight.

If the Titanic could have altered it’s pre-set course when icebergs were first observed directly in the ships predetermined path, it would have ended up successfully pulling into port, precisely where it was hoping to end up, with a bunch of very happy, satisfied and probably “return” customers.

Instead, the inability to change coarse in time when the danger was first discovered directly in the middle of the so called “unsinkable ship’s” pre-ordained path is exactly what kept them from successfully reaching their intended objective, and the outcome was death, destruction and not a single satisfied “return” customer coming back for more.

Altering the original path most certainly does not equal a disregard for the original plan. It actually serves to ensure that the mission is successfully, safely, securely and satisfyingly accomplished. Wouldn’t you agree?

What do you think on this matter?

I enthusiastically await your comments and ideas!

Yours Sincerely,

Larry

“On Words And Up Words”

Larry L. Nichols
http://www.wordandwebwiz.com/
http://www.onwordsandupwords.blogspot.com/
http://www.larrylnichols.wordpress.com/
http://www.biz-e-life.com/

Words are my paints - Minds are my canvases.