Ready for Risk?

Welcome to 2010. Last year was a year of risk for me. It's a regular part of any nomadic leader's journey. You cannot keep seeking and changing without coming face to face with challenges to your (or your organizations') status quo. At that point you face RISK.

Speaking of RISK: My question for anyone for whom risk is part of the equation on their current journey, is not so much are you willing to take the risk, but are you ready? Many are willing...you hear them boldly talk about their plans & dreams. That's great. But are they READY? Readiness means you have gone beyond the talk and are now giving energy to seriously count the cost. Here's something that can help you move to the READINESS stage:

TO RISK OR NOT TO RISK?
4 Simple Questions to Help Assess Any Risk
From the book: TAKE THE RISK by Ben Carson, MD

These questions help you consider the various possibilities in a reasonable, logical manner before making an uncertain or risky decision.

1. What is the worst thing that could happen if I went ahead with this decision?



2. What is the best thing that could happen if I went ahead?



3. What’s the worst thing that could happen if I don’t go ahead with this decision?



4. What’s the best thing that could happen if I don’t go ahead?


In answering the questions, think of these additional key-words for acquiring the knowledge and wisdom necessary to make your decision:

Who? – Who would be most affected by any decision made? Revisit the 4 questions not only from your point of view, but from theirs too.

What? – What do you need to know in order to more clearly make this decision? Get informational support and people support/advice. Ultimately, however, this decision is yours to make and not dependent on others' viewpoints.

Where? – Where are you going (does this fit your goals and values)? Where are you now (your skills, abilities, knowledge, thinking, attitudes)? Where will you start (your preparation)?

When? - Often the timing of these questions affects the conclusion. Times change. So do circumstances. Does this fit into life now? What about in two years?

How? - What’s the plan for each of the scenarios? Is the ‘how’ a workable, realistic strategy?

Why? - Why is one of the most important questions to ask – what are your motives, your personal values around this risk?

If you are contemplating something new this year, I leave you with a quote that I heard many years ago (author unknown) that has served me well whenever I have a dream of changing something running through my head...

If not you, then who? If not now, then when?