Can't is a 4-Letter Word

Never even begin to let the word CAN’T enter your mind or come out of your mouth.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

Don’t allow your teammates to think or say the word CAN’T.  This is easier said than done. Avoiding CAN’T requires a combination of leadership, discipline and tenacity with a healthy dose of optimism to avoid.

Leadership Tools: Can't is a 4 Letter Word

NOT YET is a much better way to frame things.  

"Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years."

Bill Gates

Bill Gates summed it up perfectly with his quote which is generally about time span. It’s important to understand that all of us have different time horizons over which we are comfortable planning.  

These time horizons shorten based on the newness of the subject matter and what level of stress we are under.

Contractors are faced with lots of new conditions including a very tight talent market, changing project delivery methods and rapidly developing technologies.  

Leadership requires that steady hand of setting the course - even in the face of uncertainty.  Then sticking with that course taking one step forward at a time. Even when you end up falling back two-steps just get back up and take another step forward with a positive attitude.  You will get there; just NOT YET.




Collections and Retention Trend Metric
Assuming that a contractor’s project team has done an effective job of aggressively billing the project, the biggest variable that remains for cash flow is the effectiveness of collections.
Doing What You Don't Want to Do
It is natural for all of us to focus on our strengths and the things we love to do. Things we love to do are usually things that we are good at doing; our strengths. None of us were born with great business acumen or technical competency.
Profitability Trends
When you are looking at your scoreboard, remember that industry average benchmarks and single points in time only tell part of the story.