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Find out what made them effective. Take a risk. Don’t carelessly disregard the rules, but do find
unconventional ways to do things if it helps. Be prepared to explain yourself and apologize if you
overstep. Think and act differently; try new things; break free of your restraints.

11. Think there’s only one way to get things done? Try different solutions and learn from the
results. Don’t expect to get it right the first time. A low-risk, perfectionist mindset leads to safe and
stale solutions. Many studies show that the second or third try is when we really understand the
underlying dynamics of problems. To increase learning, shorten your action time and get feedback
loops—aiming to make them as immediate as possible. The more frequent the cycles, the more
opportunities to learn. If we do something in each of three days instead of one thing every three days,
we triple our learning opportunities and increase our chances of finding the right answer.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…

Clark, N. F. (2013, July 15). A surprising way to get things done on time. Forbes.
Conlon, C. (2011, October 12). 7 Wise ways to find focus and get things done. Life Hack.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011, May 28). Positive thinking: Reduce stress by eliminating negative self-talk.
Mayo Clinic.
Pitagorsky, G. (2011, January 26). Project managers are change managers. Project Times.

Job assignments
• Offer to lead an underresourced project that requires you to bargain and trade with others to get what
you need to succeed.
• Begin something from scratch that requires your bringing a team together and initiating simultaneous
actions under a tight time frame.
• Take on a task where you’ve failed in the past. Push yourself outside your comfort zone and
experiment with new ways of achieving success.
• Consider tasks that are no longer developmental for you but would be for others, and delegate them.
• Volunteer to plan an off-site meeting, conference, convention, trade show, or other event where you’re
almost certain to encounter changing requirements and obstacles that will test your resourcefulness.

Take time to reflect…
If the task seems impossible with the resources you have…

…then renegotiate and refocus. Figure out what’s possible with limited resources. The resources
that have brought you this far can probably take you even further. Use old tools in new ways.
Improvise and adapt. Find a way.

If your “go to” resources have got up and gone…

…then recognize the risks of relying on the same sources again and again. Seek out new options.
Use your knowledge of your environment. Tap into connections. Always be on the lookout.

© Korn Ferry 2014-2015. All rights reserved. WWW.KORNFERRY.COM

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