Tie Off All the Bleeders
In a chat with a surgeon this past weekend I heard phrase in the title for the first time. It essentially suggests that when a surgeon is doing a tricky procedure after they cut open the patient but before doing the essential work they reduce the risk of surprise bleeding. They tie off all the veins etc. that may pop during the procedure and make a mess [or worse].
At first I could only think of a cross-application to golf and chess where before hitting a ball or moving a piece the player must be careful to ensure nothing terrible can result from an errant play.
But, of course, there are many applications in the business world as well. Here are four ideas for ‘tying off all the bleeders’ when implementing a new strategy.
Do a Potential Problem Analysis. Think about what can go wrong and what you can do to prevent the problem and what would you would do if the problem occurs.
Do a Cross Impact Analysis. Think about what else could happen once the strategy is in place. It’s good to do a focus group with stakeholders to hear how a diverse audience sees the situation.
Sell in advance. Let people know what’s coming. Make sure key players are in agreement. Ask who else might need an upfront conversation.
Do a pilot project. When possible go slow and small at the beginning. You might see something unexpected which you can fix before it blows up.
