If I were to ask you to take a guess, which season sees the most car accidents? If you guessed winter, you’re actually wrong. And it’s not summer either, when road construction is at its peak, and detours route travelers across rougher, more treacherous roads. More accidents actually occur in spring and fall, when the roadways are clear of obstacles, detours, and most ice and snow. And the reason for this is our brains, not the roads. When road conditions improve, and are “normal,” human beings tend to pay less attention, and aren’t as mindful during their commutes.
When you let down your guard, that’s exactly when terrible accidents happen. We all have been told this, over and over and over again. As soon as you start to feel secure, it’s tempting to look down at your phone for just a second, or dig around for something on the floor. With no ice or traffic cones to watch out for, it doesn’t seem like a risk to take your eyes off the road. Driving can also be terribly boring, especially when you use the same routes over and over and over. If we’re honest, most of our brains slip up, and fail to always assess risk well when we’re bored or absent minded. So we look down, we try to find something in our bag, or we get distracted looking at something that’s just more interesting than the monotony of the road.
It’s an interesting fact, and one I think relates to entrepreneurs and business leaders, especially this spring, as the world is continuing to open up and return to a semblance of normalcy. This past year, most businesses had to readjust how they operated significantly. Our focus was intense, and every day, we just tried our best to stay safe, stay profitable, and pay attention to the needs of our staff.
And now, all of us will be fighting a tendency to relax those thoughts, and daydream instead of new ventures, new deals, new exciting ways to grow. Who wants to keep a laser focus on their books, on safety, and keep checking up on people when finally you can do things you’ve been wanting to do for a whole year? It’s far more fun to think of your next marketing campaign, or planning events. Without constantly having to assess risk, going back to old ways will start to feel like slipping into an old, comfortable routine pretty fast, and our brains will be tricking us into thinking that the hard part is over, and we don’t have to pay attention to the basics anymore.
It’s understandable, but it’s also dangerous. Last spring was a time of great change, and reopening will also be a tumultuous time of adjusting to a new normal. My advice is to try your best to stay focused on the basics, as much as possible. Instead of trying to do hundreds of things, and getting pulled in different directions, be mindful of the readjustment period. Those who move ahead with a little bit of caution and are able to moderate themselves will do well. But I fear for those who rush headlong into a false sense of security.
It will be a difficult temptation to overcome, but I believe that those entrepreneurs and leaders who rush headlong into tons of projects will find ultimately themselves fumbling to provide the same level of service and reliability that got them through the pandemic. Those who decide to push their team to change gears too quickly, and take on too much, may lose talent that has been loyal and steadfast through the most difficult times. Those who take on too many projects, attracted to the amazing possibilities that have been denied us for so long, are likely to lose their reputation as rock solid leaders with a strong vision, and start to lose the faith of their staff.
I, more than anyone else, would love to just give everyone a pat on the back and say well done, now’s the time to go wild. I’m an optimist, after all. And I’ve gotten where I am partly because I’m willing to take risks. As much as I’d love to give everyone the green light to dream big right now, I’m instead advising caution. What can I say? It’s the not the first time I’ve said or done something unpopular. And I’ll be right there with you, testing these new waters with one toe at a time.