SPEAKER SpotlightCONTINUED
tering that problem again the next month and the next year .
In the book , I argue that it may be impossible to “ solve ” tunneling entirely . But even brief escapes from the tunnel can give us hope . Let ’ s say there ’ s some recurring problem your staffers face — an irritant . Maybe they consistently run out of towels , or maybe there are temperature issues , or maybe there are cancellations that don ’ t get communicated in a timely manner . The question I ’ d have for you , as the leader , would be : Is there a forum where you encourage your staffers to surface these recurring problems and then assign resources and accountability to find a solution ? If not , your people may continue tunneling forever . And you might not even know about it !
P : If you could give the business owners and leaders who make up the core of the ISPA community one piece of advice to consider between now and Conference in May , what would it be ? H : Consider that the only way to guarantee that your business runs more smoothly next year than this year is to escape the cycle of firefighting and reorganize your work around fire prevention . That ’ s upstream thinking .
“... the only way to guarantee that your business runs more smoothly next year than this year is to escape the cycle of firefighting and reorganize your work around fire prevention . That ’ s upstream thinking .”
What are your favorite hobbies ? I have daughters who are five and three . There ’ s no such thing as a hobby .
How would you spend your ideal day off ? In a hammock in Fiji , reading a book .
What do you do to relax and reduce stress ? Walk . It never fails .
What is your favorite book ? I love anything by Haruki Murakami .
What is your favorite song ? “ Don ’ t Let Me Down ” by the Beatles . I don ’ t think I ’ ll ever get tired of it .
14 PULSE JANUARY 2022