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Hit the ground running – but in which direction?

We need someone who can hit the ground running – I wish I had had a pound for every time I had heard that expression!

In recent years however, the sentiment seems to have been taken on with a vengeance. From singers who are expected to become an overnight sensation, ‘Apprentices’ who will turnaround a failing business tomorrow and Football Managers who must bring in ‘the results’ in their first season. Manchester United’s winning of the Premier League also resulted in Sir Alex Ferguson becoming the most successful club manager in the history of the British Game – an outstanding achievement. Would he fulfil that potential if he was starting out today? With no trophies being brought home in his first three years at Manchester United it is unlikely that today’s Board would wait that long for him to prove himself. Sir Alex has been at United since 1986, their local rivals, Manchester City, have had some 15 Managers in the last 10 years and no trophies for many more.

On a slightly different tack, Sir Cliff Richard tells us in his autobiography that it took several records from when he was first signed to his number one hit – Living Doll, which was his fifth release. He recounts that his record company were happy to wait, telling him not to panic as they would find the song that was right for him eventually. Would today’s music labels be so accommodating? Will the pop stars of today still be selling out concerts in 50 years time?

Do we as Managers expect too much too soon? Does progress also mean that the time it takes someone to get ‘up to speed’ now is so much shorter? Is the quest for quick results at the expense of a better longer term tomorrow – both for the business and the individual?

I know from my own experience that it takes time to build up knowledge, trust, confidence and relationships in order to bring about substantial and long lasting change for organisations and the individuals who make it work. Of course, we need to work and be effective in the early stages. However, if we want our employees to really hit the ground running in our direction don’t we need to allow them to walk, jog and sprint a little first!

Gail Winwood