2023-08-18 03:03:54
“Stop making excuses and get the job done.” This is the recipe for success, according to economist and World Bank Senior Vice President (2016-2018), Paul Romer. I had the pleasure of hearing it first hand at the World of Business Forum in New York (WOBI). The economist, co-recipient in 2018 of the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel and University Professor of Economics at NYU, explained to the audience the “formula” to lead successfully in current times. This statement generated some concern among the listeners, mostly CEOs and management figures, since they expected more a graphic explanation of the complex global economic situation than a “call to action” to responsibility.
Although, in reality, he directed this statement especially at political officials (“someone has to take responsibility for things”). “When you are a leader you don’t have to make excuses, you just have to do your job.” But I found the concept interesting and from my experience advising companies in the Pitaya business enhancer, it applies perfectly to companies and their management figures. It seems obvious, but: who is going to assume responsibilities if it is not a leader who does it?
But, what happens when responsibility is assumed, but it is not clear what is that work that will lead to the resolution of the situation? There are two concepts that are useful.
The first is to understand that doing the work passes for “doing your homework.” But, “doing homework” has nuances, of course.
First of all, because you have to know what duties will take the company to the desired stage. Because doing homework is not working hard, it is doing it in the right direction, hitting the right keys.
Secondly, because the value of homework is not always in doing it itself (getting things done) but in being able to absorb the learning that results from it.
And, thirdly, because sometimes the tasks that will bring results don’t come out the first time, and you have to keep looking for answers. Remember the last time (probably every week) you had to do your homework: know what homework and apply it in the right direction, absorb the knowledge that comes from doing it, and when the results don’t come out (or even when they do), keep improving and looking for answers. It’s not just a performance issue, it’s also a mentality issue.
The second is to remember that, as Einstein said (and yes, the statement is not new, but it is still applicable): “No problem can be solved at the same level of consciousness in which it was created.”
In fact, and going back to Romer, in his Theory of Endogenous Growth it is demonstrated mathematically how the accumulation of knowledge generates economic growth in the long term. To be exact, not only knowledge: also human capital and innovation.
Therefore, when you lack inspiration or ideas to do the job and raise your level of consciousness, don’t be afraid to go outside, seek advice, incorporate new stimuli (making decisions is not a matter of time, but of information), read, train, and even , rest. And use all that new information, not to make excuses, no. If not, simply to do the job.
“Don’t excuse. Do your job”, as Paul Romer said.
Verónica Ferrer Moregó is a professor at EAE Business School and a Pitaya partner
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