Just a Toothache?

I have a tooth ache. It seems that every 4 hours I get a throbbing ache around one of my teeth. It lasts for about 10 minutes and it is fairly intense. Some will ask how does my toothache relate to this blog on leadership?

Well, I went to the dentist. She has no idea what the problem is. The dentist suggested the possibility of a root canal or pulling the tooth, but she questioned either course of action because we do not fully understand the issue. During the drive home from the dentist, I started to think. It is the same with my business. I've seen leaders want to "treat" the symptons. For example, someone is not "performing well", so they let them go (without giving that person a chance to succeed). Or, they say "cut all expenses" because the economy is going south when it might be a time to invest. A bad economy is not the time to cut marketing or sales efforts in areas that have substantial growth opportunities. Frequently, I see leaders "panic", jump to conclusions and treat symptoms without being like my dentist and taking the time for the right decision.

WIth a fundamentally sound business and solid vision, leaders will be fine . . . if there are issues, they should spend more time on diagnostics (talking to clients/prospects, assessing trends, buyer's behaviors, etc.).

By the way, I ate when I got home - the tiniest bite - OUCH . . . my tooth starts hurting BIGTIME!