Vitamin N
Sometimes the best response to a new idea is simply to say “no.”
Or at the very least, "slow down a minute."
There's no shortage of great ideas in the world. You'll hear them from your board, from your members, from staff at other organizations.
But a good idea is not enough. It needs a plan. It needs a goal. It needs a realistic assessment of benefits and costs.
Of course it can be hard to identify the ideas that are worth pursuing. Here are three questions you can ask yourself to make it a little easier:
What are the measurable business outcomes w'e’ll get if we implement this idea?
What's it going to take to make this happen?
Is there another way we could get the same benefit — easier, faster, or cheaper?
Only you can answer the first one. If you're not sure how to answer the other two, it's okay to pull in a more experienced player for expert advice.
Here's the thing:
If you care about your nutrition, you probably want to be sure you're getting the right vitamins. This one is what my mother used to call “Vitamin N.” Take it often.
And when a careful assessment leads you to a “yes,” you can move forward with purpose.
You don't have to say no to everything, but you should really make sure that when you're saying yes, it’s for something you really need.
All the best,
A.