Responding to New Ideas or Challenges

Regardless of how good your plan is, new ideas and challenges arise that were not contemplated during the planning process.

The following steps provide a good framework for addressing such ideas and challenges:

• Gather information (facts, data) and get clarification on the idea/development

• How does information relate to the plan, does it create a new opportunity or threat, reinforce or otherwise affect current strategies/tactics?

• Be open to looking at alternative ways of doing things

• Look for ways to work together and identify mutual benefits with current or emerging partners...what would it take to work together?

• Be proactive in gathering business intelligence, environmental data, and managing relationships so new ideas/situations do not blind-side us

• Determine if/when the situation is a crisis or development which requires a fundamental rethink of the current strategies

• Always evaluate ideas using the same criteria of: values, relevance to members, customer satisfaction, financial impact and feasibility

• If the new idea or development is significant, prepare a project proposal summary for discussion with the Executive Committee or applicable Manager with suggested next steps

Source: Patrick Culhane, President and CEO of The Canadian Payroll Association based in Toronto.  Used with permission.

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