Fend off the fox and move!

What's the latest episode of your business?

You know, what drama or problem or issue or sudden event are you wrestling with?

Between news media encapsulation of whatever is happening at the moment as "the big thing to pay attention to" (something I somewhat regrettably helped promote as a former reporter and editor), television sit-com enactment of life as a series of short vignettes and Wall Street analyst intense scrutiny of every company move and short-term performance, we are taught to look at life as what's happening NOW in front of our noses.

From a strategy perspective, this myopia is a very bad thing.

No doubt, you have to avoid being eaten by the fox while on your trip to a better place.  But being aware and vigilant while moving forward is not the same as not having a destination and just focusing on whatever is happening in the moment.  We see far too many organizations in "episodic mode," with the major focus being on the day-to-day and immediate rather than on moving ahead purposefully to an envisioned better future.

What's needed are true leaders, who understand the difference between the moment and the future.  We use the term "leader" loosely and generously, as in business leader, organizational leader, team leader, thought leader.  Yet the very definition of "lead" carries with it responsibility that too many of our so-called leaders do not discharge well.  The dictionary definition of "lead" variously references "show the way" and "guide in direction, course."   Leading is not sitting in place and dealing with what comes.  It is spurring purposeful movement in a direction.

Leadership is a heavier burden than management or administration.  Leadership calls for effective management and administration with the vital added dimension of direction.  It demands that dealing with whatever is happening at the moment - the current episode of your business - be handled with strategic perspective, so that actions not only fend off the fox (and the analysts who call for immediate results) but move the organization toward a better future and greater long-term value to stakeholders. 

Are you a true leader?  For the best results for your organization, be strategic and lead, fend off the fox and go beyond managing and administering.