I don’t need plan B

Not having a plan B at all means sticking to plan A and persevering to make it succeed, because the path is challenging and the tread is slow.

At the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the business dynamics have changed phenomenally. Disruptions in the business world have forced us to think out of the box.

We have started thinking differently by constantly questioning our beliefs. Today, we depend more on research, data and algorithms to guide us. These tools give us power and confidence to stay put on our desired path.

Today’s workforce has gone through a transformation process in its attitudes. Whether they are employees at the baseline or at the top, they are all working with a revived zeal. They are training their minds to stay resilient in the face of challenges and follow the mantra – ‘never give up’.

“Personally my view is that one must single mindedly focus on plan A and give it the desirable push without being distracted by another option, one may call it B, or C. I have been a sports person and I believe in the spirit of giving yourself 100% for winning”

Will Smith says there is no need to have a plan B as it distracts you from plan A. Having an alternative is to nurture your mind with the pessimism that failure is an option for plan A. How do you expect your mind to stay on track when you continuously doubt your choice?

Building a business is hard, not just for the entrepreneurs but for the employers too. It is equally hard for the employees to meet the expectations of their bosses. A little hurdle on the way may demotivate them and make them fall into the trap of getting attracted to new ideas.

HRKatha spoke to Prem Singh, CHRO JK Group, he shares the same thought process. He says, “Personally my view is that one must single mindedly focus on plan A and give it the desirable push without being distracted by another option, one may call it B, or C. I have been a sports person and I believe in the spirit of giving yourself 100% for winning.”

There are leaders who ride two boats at one time. While they may be great at multitasking, imagine the kind of results they can produce if they stay focused only on one!

The fear of failure is the most obvious reason why people resort to plan B. Unfortunately, a decision made out of fear is hardly forward focused. It is not influenced by passion, purpose and potential. It is just a safety net decision that lacks the inertia required to drive great achievements and joys.

In the corporate context, leaders can use this tool to drive their teams to produce phenomenal results. At the same time, they can apply it on themselves to invent new processes.

“Where is the Josh when a plan B exists ! Once a plan is decided it has to be a plan A only and no room for plan B should exist unless fundamental assumptions change. Plan B only signifies lack of conviction for plan A so why should it even exist”

“Where is the Josh when a plan B exists ! Once a plan is decided it has to be a plan A only and no room for plan B should exist unless fundamental assumptions change. Plan B only signifies lack of conviction for plan A so why should it even exist!” says Nitin Nahata, global HR head, Tata Global Beverages.

In the West, there has been a lot of research on this subject. Here, we share with you the Harvard Business School MBA study on goal setting. The graduating class was asked a single question about their goals in life:

Have you set written goals and created a plan for their attainment?

Prior to graduation, it was determined that:
• 84 per cent of the entire class had no set goals at all.
• 13 per cent of the class had set written goals but had no concrete plans.
• 3 per cent of the class had both written goals and concrete plans.

The result was as follows:

10 years later, the 13 per cent who had set written goals but had not created plans, were making twice as much money as the 84 per cent who had set no goals at all.

However, what is worth noting is that the three per cent of the class with both written goals and a plan, were making ten times as much as the remaining 97 per cent.

Last but not the least, taking ownership of your idea and treating it as a baby that needs nurturing, time and energy will help you steadily take your plan A to its logical conclusion.