The Fork in the Road

“Expect the unexpected”

Troy Phillips©2010

Life is series of daily journeys…

At School

At Work

At Home

On Vacation

What’s your goal?

Win a Race?

Take a Family Vacation?

Finish a Degree?

Lose Weight?

Go to the Moon?

Take a 3 hour tour?

What do you need?

Identify the critical things you need to be successful.– How will you get them?– What will you do if you can’t get everything

you need?

Let’s Check our list….

How Prepared are We?

Exceedingly Intelligent and Talented

Highly Educated

Expertly Trained

Well Practiced

Superbly Equipped and Funded

Forecast is Favorable

How can we fail?

Step #1: Preparation = Anticipation

Anticipate what you need– Make a checklist!

Anticipate what may happen– Has anyone done this before?

Anticipate how to prevent it?– Risk Mitigation

Anticipate what you would do if it does?– Contingency Planning

What you need!

ON THE ROADSigns/SignalsMaps/GPS/OnStarPassenger/Cell PhoneSense of DirectionPolice

AT WORKPolicies & ProcessesPeers/MentorsSupport– Help Desk– HR Generalist– Buyer

SystemsKnowledge & ExperienceGut

Risk Assessment

The Elements– Description– Chance of Happening– Possible Consequences– Mitigating Factors– Action/Solution if needed

Document it!

Step #2:Anticipation by Categorization

Within your Control– Education & Training– Preparation & Planning

Outside of your Control– Regulatory Changes– Unforeseen Failures

What indicators will reveal something is wrong?

Categorization Metric

Risk In-Control Out-Control

Education

Technology

Time Contraints

Staffing

Experience

Step #3:Contingency Planning

Plan a course of action for each category

Identify any “go” / “no-go” points

Risk Identification and Mitigation

Check your spare tireDevelop a support system

Know your Business

Know your staff

Know Yourself

When you get a flat, it’s too late!

Is it there?Does it have air?Do you know how to use the jack?Are the bolts frozen?Will it fit?Your car is different!

Are you ready?

Bags are packed

Destination Identified

Route Plotted

Tune-up complete

Physically Ready

Get Going!!!!

“It Happens”-Forrest Gump

Something or Someone gets in the way…

What are your “forks”?

What are the obstacles that derail us?

You don’t even know you’re lost!

Step #4: Early Identification & Accurate Assessment

Check your equipment

Watch those indicators!

Assess possible causes– "If you eliminate the impossible, whatever

remains—however improbable—must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

Be Thorough, but be quick!

What do they have in common?

Negatives:– Unscheduled & Unplanned– Create more or “unnecessary” work– Delay or Prevent reaching the destination– May reveal other weaknesses

Positives:– Opportunities for exercising your skill at

improvising, adapting and overcoming obstacles!

The Typical Reaction:The Typical Reaction:– Initial Denial: “Is this Happening?”– Shock: “OH NO!”– Denial: “This is not happening”– Anger: “Why is this happening to me?”– Bargaining: “If you get me out of this, I will…”– Acceptance: “What will I do about it?”

Success depends on how quickly you get to Acceptance.

Step #5:Adapt the Plan and Execute

Is there a plan to address this issue?– If not, is there one that’s close?

What factors are assumed in the plan?– Are they the same?

Any significant factor difference– Impacts or changes the plan

What more do we know now that it happened?

Prepare to REACT Spontaneously

Unintentional– Unplanned

– Reactionary

– Improvised

Intentional– Planned

– Practiced

– Precise

– Researched

– Approved

– Policy

Formulate your Action Plan

Stay Calm

Get the Whole Story

Be or Become Knowledgeable

Draw on Experience (not necessarily yours)

Communicate Clearly

Make the Decision!

Call for Help

Step #6: Time to Act!!

Actions have Consequences...

Intended– Move Forward– Fix the issue– Solve the Problem

Unintended– More Cost– More Time– More Grief!!!

Step #7: Reassess and Adapt

Identify expectations

Monitor progress

Revise the Plan

Revise the expectations

Communicate!!!

What’s in your Scrapbook?

Detours can make the trip memorable

Reflect on your trips and decisions

Chose your Reaction

Learn from the experience!

“If you come to a Fork in the Road, TAKE IT!”

-Yogi Berra