Manage Under Fire

Our ability to think clearly and act quickly when our companies are in crisis is very difficult. We tend to tighten the leash on everyone, and in most cases prohibit the company from doing what it is supposed to do. When cash flow restrictions hit the fan, we will be quick to start second guessing every decision made by everyone. Instead, we should be endorsing those decisions made by your team, as long as they follow a few simple guidelines. Those guidelines are:

1. When selecting methods to complete the task you have been assigned, plan it in such a way as to reduce the cash requirements to complete the work. This may mean you select a vendor or method that actually costs more, but will reduce cash flow exposure.
2. Make your decisions as if you owned the company.
3. Detailed planning will reward you with lowest possible cost of completion.
4. Track your activities to insure they are on schedule and under the projected budget.
5. Work with the other members of team to coordinate your efforts to insure lowest possible cost of operation of all activities within the company. Remember, if you score a win at the expense of the overall company it is really a loss.

If you can transfer these basic guidelines to your team, and then work with them in a supportive fashion you will have far greater results than trying to do it yourself.