Working under pressure, especially during periods of operational capacity challenge, can indeed be daunting.
The decisions made in these situations can have long-term effects, and the benefits or consequences may take weeks or even months to fully play out.
To navigate these challenges effectively, it is important to have a playbook, or a set of strategies prepared in advance. This allows for clear and calm decision-making under pressure. An example playbook can be seen below which also highlights when it is appropriate to assess and instigate Change and when Transformation is more suited.
Alongside your playbook, proactive steps to continually assess your operational resilience are key.
- Gathering and Building Data Analytics – Make data-driven decisions whenever possible. Collect relevant data to gain insights into emerging problems and use this information to inform your decision-making process. This helps mitigate risks and improves the chances of making well-informed decisions.
- Scenario Planning – Knowing what you are going to do in low level scenarios enables your team to be prepared and with pre-agreed trigger points, valuable time can be saved navigating stakeholder and obtaining governance sign off.
- Practice effective communication – Clear and transparent communication is crucial during high-pressure situations. Keep your team members informed about the challenges, the decisions being made, and their roles and responsibilities. This creates a sense of unity, accountability, and trust among the team.
- Seek input and advice – Don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues, mentors, or external SME’s for advice or input. Collaborating with others can provide fresh perspectives and help identify solutions that may have been overlooked.
The next part in our series looks at a playbook for how to challenge and reduce costs within your business.
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