It’s a familiar scene that plays out in conference rooms in companies both large and small every day.  A meeting is called and here comes the CEO with a stack of books, enthusiastically passing a copy out to everyone in the room while announcing they will be implementing the next big thing.

Outwardly the team nods and makes noises of agreement.  Inwardly they’re groaning and thinking ‘here we go again, another idea that won’t be implemented’.

The CEO has good intentions and is doing what CEO’s do… looking for ways to improve the business.  The team on the other hand lacks enthusiasm, time, and energy.  It’s not that they don’t think it’s a good idea.  They’re wondering how they’re supposed to implement this new method on top of everything else they’re doing.

The great idea is then tossed over the wall for implementation and the CEO moves on to other things, as the CEO should.  The CEO’s job is to come up with strategy and the big plan, not get bogged down in the details of how everything is supposed to get done.  They hire good people for that.

So, what are you supposed to do if you’re the one designated to run with the new idea?  The HR director at one company found herself in the position of taking the baton from the CEO and implementing a new planning method.  Keeping this important movement going meant introducing it to the rest of the organization.  A big task to add to an already full plate.

Following through on these initiatives takes considerable resources.  Rarely is it realistic to assume that internal resources have the time or skill set needed to implement these ideas.   This HR director knew her capacity so she found an experienced external facilitator to do the training.  She was still responsible for the outcome but didn’t have to worry about figuring out how to get it done.  Most requests for external resources will get approved when it’s to implement a high priority initiative.

While it’s normal to feel overwhelmed when the ‘next big thing’ comes along, count yourself lucky if your CEO introduces new resources and ideas.  You work for a forward-thinking company with the very best intentions.  Now please excuse me…  I have some exciting new ideas I need to go share with my team.