Have a plan B, or C and D
Fallback planning helps you feel confident that there are alternatives in case of surprises.
Humans hate surprises, we like predictability. Surprises make us feel that we are out of control.
In an uncertain world, how do you gain predictability? Scenario or Fallback plans
Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t
Having fallback plans help your brain build the mental models that it might need in the case of a surprise.
We would much rather have a poor model than no model. A lack of a mental model causes us to paralyse and panic.
Scenario plan the likely options and start to think through what you might do *if* they materialise.
Think broadly, be creative. What is the worst the world can throw at you and your project?
Practice helps here. Once you have a mental model, you can add to it and adapt it easily. It is like a muscle which can be built.
Health warning: Do not expect that your plan will accurately predict what is going to happen. It won’t. But the act of planning creates the pathways of possibility in your brain, creating a sense of adaptability and awareness.
A good fallback plan or plans quickly settle you in times of stress and crisis.
Be careful not to get too deep into each plan, it is better to be broad with many scenarios than getting too focused on any one. If the future was that predictable you would not need a fallback plan!
Some practical advice
- Scenario plan what might go wrong, be broad. Expect surprises.
- Build simple, pragmatic solutions to the channel. The go-to actions.
- If the external environment changes significantly, revisit
- Make it a habit, the more you use fallback plans, the easier they are to create.
- Enjoy the calm they bring
This is part of our Leadership Wizdom series, bite sized leadership advice for leaders who wish to improve their leadership, but don’t have much time. For more indepth articles check out The Change Wizard.
We coach leaders and help their organisations become more adaptable at www.thechangewizard.com
