A message from Terry:  “Fall down seven times. Rise up eight.”  Japanese proverb

See whether the following lament sounds familiar: “We talk about a lot of good ideas. We even make great plans. But, somehow, we never follow through…”

It’s certainly better to have good ideas than to have no future plans at all, but a repeated pattern of failing to bring those plans to life can sap the morale of any team. To avoid an ambush that can stop new ideas in their tracks, be on the lookout for these dangerous culprits:

• Negative Generalizations. Beware of sweeping words such as always, never, no one, everybody, and that slippery trouble-maker, they.

• Undetailed Refusals. Watch out for vague, full-stop rebuttals that undercut the creative process, such as “I don’t like it,” “That sounds dumb,” or “I just don’t think that will work.”

• Map-less Journeys. To move confidently through new territory, you need a plan of attack. Phrases like “Let’s just play it by ear” and “We’ll see how it goes” can undermine team confidence, and may indicate insufficient advance planning.

Keep in mind that a core competency for high-functioning teams is the ability, willingness and fortitude to:

• Formulate a specific plan of action, complete with short-term and long-range goals;

• Follow through on the plan; and

• Follow up by monitoring, discussing and reinventing as needed.

Executing all three of these steps will keep you and your team moving forward in new and rewarding directions.

What new plan would you most like to implement with your team? What steps will you take to bring it to full and vibrant life?