Nine Principles for Taking Critical Action

Recently, we’ve been crystallising our approach to solving problems and seizing opportunities, to build a repeatable, consistent model that can be rapidly applied to save time and money, and create value for our customers – and their customers too. In tough economic times, action needs to be decisive yes, but incisive also – not much point making the wrong decision quickly! Anything that helps in the quest to get it right will help immensely at the moment (and when recovery comes).

These nine headings are key parameters that have proven their value over time. They are based on nearly 20 years of software development, team leading, business analysis, consulting, sales, mentoring and senior management; across many employers and customers.

Having a common way of looking at problems and opportunities helps to prioritise and decide on courses of action. Any opportunity you face, or problem you need to solve can be considered from each of these nine angles, working through them from understanding to action. I also like to start by establishing the facts of a situation, and then the emotional and/or political elements – both need to be dealt with, but usually in different ways.

Nine Principles for Taking Critical Action

Look at the situations you find yourself in and try to “score” the situation in terms of these nine elements.

Set One – The Things You Work With:

  • People, Process and Technology

Set Two – Commercial Imperatives:

  • Profit, Risk and Differentiation

Set Three – Attitude & Commitment:

  • Communication, Ownership and Priority

Please get in touch if you would like to know more about how the principles work in practise, and how they came about.