IT Management Model – Ready, Aim, Fire

Ready, , , Aim, , , Fire !

Sounds as easy as 1-2-3 doesn’t it ?

Logical as can be – right ?

It’s how we all manage, isn’t it ?

Well, , , not quite.

There are quite a few management styles. You can probably put the following “management style tags” on a few managers you know:

A. Ready – Ready – Ready – Aim, , , Ready – Ready – Aim, , , Fire
The manager who just can’t, , , seem, , , to pull, , , the trigger.

B. Fire-Ready-Aim
The manager who shoots first and asks questions later, sometimes known as the “quick shot artist”.

The Ready-Aim-Fire manager is the type we need to be. This manager identifies the specific target he needs to hit (develops a strategy), prepares to hit that target by taking careful aim (plans and prepares), and fires with accuracy (implements the plan).

This management style is much more effective, “breaks less glass”, and invariably has a much more productive organization than other managers who don’t take the time to plan or who can’t make a decision.

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From the book, IT Management Models

Description:
Clearly identify your target, develop a plan of attack, and finally implement your solution. There is a real benefit by evaluating a situation and taking the time to prepare your strategy before “pulling the trigger”. At the same time, “analysis paralysis” can be just as bad as firing too quickly.

Manage in a Ready – Aim – Fire mode and you will suffer fewer “casualties” and achieve many more successes.

Key points:

“Shooting from the hip” creates breakage
The basics
- Ready – Quantify and understand your objectives
- Aim – Clearly define your plan
- Fire – After evaluating consequences, implement with vigor
Lead by example and coach others to follow this process

Discussion:
When you prepare to make a decision or take action on something, use a “ready – aim – fire” approach to save yourself from a lot of pain and aggravation.

There may be situations where you have to react so quickly that you don’t have time to prepare and take aim at what you’re “shooting at”, but those scenarios are rare.

Create an environment where your organization’s actions are planned by establishing processes to support a more predictable approach than a “knee jerk” reaction.

“Shooting from the hip” creates breakage – When managers don’t take time to prepare and clearly define their targets, they accomplish less and often break things which has even more negative impact on the team’s productivity. It also damages client satisfaction.

The basics – Use a simple approach as follows:

Ready – Define and understand your objectives
Aim – Clearly define your plan
Fire – After evaluating consequences, implement with vigor

Lead by example and coach others to follow this process – Managers who use a “ready-aim-fire” approach are teaching their employees by example the proper way to address issues that come up. Anyone can shoot blindly when a problem arises in trying to resolve the problem, but the person who identifies the problem or issue, looks at the options available to solve the issue, and assesses the implications before “pulling the trigger” will get much more accomplished than the “hip shooters”.

When you have “quick fire” artists in your organization, reach out and help them understand the issues they create by reacting to issues before they have the facts and have analyzed the ramifications of their actions. You will be helping your team achieve more success as well as developing your employee to be more successful.

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