Routines run the world.
What we do every day, every week is what determines our fate, not what we wish we’d do.
It’s nice to wish that a problem could be solved quickly but what do we do with those that can’t?
Any leader can ask “when will you finish?”, which often really means “hurry up I need it done now”.
Setting a deadline is easy, it can even be a power trip.
“Go faster” makes me feel like I’m the boss.
A better leadership question is “how long do we need”
Rather than just setting the target, asking “how long” might require making a difficult decision.
Now I have to balance ambition with reality.
I have to decide priorities. Accept ownership. Share the load.
Good leaders know those balances are key parts of their job.
This is also when the answer can become interesting. When the answer is “forever”.
Some problems don’t get solved in a week, or a month, or a year. They’re just too complex.
The causes aren’t in our control.
Many really important things are like that – in life and in business.
They’re Infinite problems.
Long term problems need long term solutions. Processes, institutions, systems & routines have to be built and maintained.
When you’re fixing an infinite problem your solutions will be different to when you’re just fixing a problem.
“Some problems don’t get solved in a week…”
So back to routines.
If Routines run the world you need to change some routines if you’re going to change the world.
Do you decide which problems are short term & which are infinite?
Do you consider every project has an “expiry date” ?
Do you trust your people to set realistic deadlines or assume you know better?
Do you challenge your teams to go faster when they need that push?
If your existing routines aren’t focused on your long term problems, why do you keep them?