The best leaders have 2 qualities in common:

1) they recognize the need for change before it’s too late and

2) they are willing to make tough decisions that may not be popular, but are needed to move forward.

The opposite is also true. Those who procrastinate or avoid decisions find that competitors have taken over, technology has passed them by, or key people have resignedand moved on.  The skills required to anticipate the need for change arenot complex. The process is quite simple. We take an idea, add to it, take something away, or change assumptions.

Here is a trustworthy sequence of steps that has worked for me.

1. Name the objective. What’s the problem? What kind of ideas do you need? Use quantitative terms, such as time, dollars or units. State your primary and secondary objectives.

2. Get the facts. Gather all the information you can about the problem, including unsuccessful attempts to solve it. Often, an idea that has failed in one set of circumstances can be highly successful in another.

3. Brainstorm. Line up your alternatives. Make no attempt to evaluate or prioritize them; simply try to list as many as you can.

4. Try the obvious solutions first. Often, a simple solution may result simply by following steps 1 and 2. Consider the short-term and long-term consequences of each action. Be specific and, again, try to use quantitative terms. Are the necessary resources available?

5. Try the wild ideas. Look, in particular, for the apparently trivial, irrelevant aspects of the problem.

6. Think intensely about the problem. Actually, this is not a separate step, but a part of all the previous steps. Make yourself think about the problem until you either reach a solution or reach a state of frustration.

7. Walk away from the problem. Put the problem out of your mind for a while. Sometimes, distancing yourself from the problem allows your subconscious to take over.

8. Seize the final flash of insight. Generally, at some indefinite time after you have walked away from the problem, you will find an answer beginning to take form in your mind. Grab it and write it down.

9. Do something about the idea. Don’t get discouraged. Above all, don’t give up. Persistence and determination can eventually direct you to some amazing results.