Grow or Reduce?

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Look at most change decisions and you will find an underlying question – should we grow something or reduce something else?

Two Initial Examples

Here’s an obvious example.? An organization wants/needs to change their profits:? do we grow the top line revenue or reduce our costs???

While both will work in the short term, your experience tells you that one choice is proactive (grow) and one is reactive (reduce), and only one is a successful long-term strategy. And while many will agree that longer term the better option is growth, those same people often choose reduction solutions.?

Here’s another example.? Should we explore new ways and options of working (growth), or bring everyone back to the office when it is safe (reduce)??

One is known and safe, the other a stretch. And while we might prefer the known option, the overall long-term view might (probably) points in a different direction.

Broader Application

This fundamental question shows up far beyond the board room though…

• Should I step out and try a new job/career or stay with the known???
• Should we expand our offerings or pare them down?
• Should we invite more people to the party or limit the guest list?
• Should we try a vacation destination or go to the place we know and love?

Here are some related ideas that tie to the fundamental grow/reduce choice:

While complex problems might be best solved with something other than an either/or answer – it is possible to grow some things while reducing others – there is a mindset at play here. And the mindset you hold likely influences all your decisions in subtle (or maybe not so subtle) ways.? In other words, you can look at all the words in the lists above and recognize value in all of them – but which list do you gravitate to?? Which list better describes your natural or immediate thought process?? That quick analysis will lead you to understand which mindset you generally carry.

Now What?

The questions I ask you today are important ones:

Do we see opportunities or challenges?? Can we move forward, or should we step back?? Is the world fundamentally a place of wonder or worry?

Before you start solving any problem, make any decision or initiate any change, understanding your mindset starting point is important. Run your decisions through this thought process to make sure you have considered all angles and options before moving forward.? Perhaps before even working out the details, ask yourself and your team whether fundamentally you want a growth or reduction strategy/approach.? Starting with that agreement and understanding will guide you as you consider and choose options with a new perspective.

Then look at the decisions and changes that you have implemented or have initiated.? Is there a balance of grow/reduce?? Do all of them lean one way or the other? Is your mindset getting in the way of the best options being implemented?

Asking these questions and thinking about this underlying choice will help you make better choices and changes in the future – for yourself, your team, and your organization.

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Time for you to share: When and how has choosing growth over reduction positively impacted your life and results?

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Have a great week - links to the resources below will extend this article and support you in getting Remarkable Results.

You are Remarkable!

Kevin ??

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