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.




Stephen Schwarzman - Time Wounds All Deals
Speed is a competitive advantage and a capability that can be built. Contractors work through hundreds of deals each year, including negotiating to win new work, joint ventures, recruiting key talent, successions, and mergers and acquisitions.
Cash Flow Myth 3 - Having Enough Capital
We have enough capital to not worry about Cash Flow. From the time this type of thinking starts to permeate the organization it is just a matter of time before there will be a cash flow crisis.
Sharpening Your Thinking Through Writing
Contractors can learn many lessons from the leadership principles of Hyman G. Rickover who is considered the “Father of the Nuclear Navy” including safety, engineering, talent, management, schedules and quality control.