Make It Happen!

Tuesday, 11 August 2009 13:34

If you are a viewer of any of the current crop of talent shows (you know the ones – How Do You Solve A Problem With A Technicolour Dreamcoat, I’d Do Anything For The X Factor etc) one of the common elements in the contestants is the unshakeable belief that they are going to be successful – often in the face of a blinding lack of talent!! In the American versions of these programmes, this self-belief is even greater, where the hopefuls have the mantra “follow your dreams and make it happen” ringing in their ears but have the singing ability of a rhinoceros with colic!

However, in business, the phrase “make it happen” probably has more relevance today than ever. Tough conditions require business leaders, owners and managers to drive their organisations into new markets, foster skills and talent, increase productivity, use innovation and technology to reduce costs and improve customer service.

The phrase also has a different meaning depending upon which word you place the emphasis –

• MAKE it happen implies a need for strength, determination. How often in our businesses has a good idea or direction only achieved 70% of what it could because we ran out of steam or allowed ourselves to be deflected by other things?
• Make IT happen doesn’t refer to having fully functioning e-mail & internet but implies we know exactly what it is we want to achieve. Regardless of economic conditions, knowing what IT is vital – whether it is your new market, product, customer expectations etc. Do we know exactly what it is we want to achieve so that our skill and energy isn’t dissipated?
• Make it HAPPEN challenges us to see tangible differences and outcomes in our organisations as a result of our determination and skill driving our clear objectives. It is both motivational and encouraging that seeing actual positive outcomes as a result determination and vision. What difference will we make in the next month that we can proudly share with co-workers and business colleagues?

This month’s action file contains many examples of where organisations are making it happen – the Schools Marine Challenge, the Hampshire Farming Conference and the North Hants Inspire 09 project to highlight just three – and we’d love to hear from you as to how you are making it happen across the Hampshire economy.

As Joel Barker so eloquently puts it -

“Vision without action is a dream, action without vision is passing time… but vision with action is making a positive difference”