The illusion of 'easy'

You’ve heard it. It's that moment in football broadcast when the announcer confidently says, "It's just a chip shot."

Ah, yes, the casual throwaway phrase we've all heard in many walks of business and life evoking visions of an "easy" golf chip shot within 25 yards of the green. Simple, right? Well, if you've ever picked up a pitching wedge, you'll know that a chip shot is anything but “easy.”

Take golf star Lexi Thompson, for example, who shanked a chip shot sideways at a critical moment during an elite tournament. It's not just pros like Thompson who know that chip shots need more than just hopes and dreams; they require skill, practice, nerve, and creativity. Factor in obstacles like the wind, uneven terrain, or even a stray pebble, and your "easy" chip shot suddenly becomes an unscripted episode of "Survivor."

So let's pivot for a moment — chip shots aren't exclusive to athletes. In the business arena, we're continually confronted with tasks that look simple on the surface but can unravel faster than you can say "double bogey."

Here's a personal tidbit to illustrate my point.

Recently, my wife Barb and I went on vacation and opted to rent an electric car. The vehicle was great and the operation of it seemed simple enough, but charging it became my "chip shot."

Even after learning how long an electric car takes to charge, I allowed myself to take it for granted before heading back on a long trek to the airport. I succumbed to the illusion of easy.

I knew we needed at least a 95% charge for our 3.5-hour drive to the airport. As the car sat parked in a hotel for three days, I was provided more. Than ample time and opportunity to get it charged up in advance. After all, I’m a risk management expert, right?

I had days to do it. Did I? Nope.

The result was a painful, nail-biting journey that played out like a Hollywood thriller, sans the dramatic background score. Fortunately, this episode ended with no harm, no foul. We arrived at our gate just as it was beginning the boarding process. Phew!

The moral of my harrowing tale is that chip shots are lurking everywhere, just waiting to trip us up when we least expect them.

So, as business owners, how can we improve? What's the strategy to assure that our “easy” shots are truly easy?

Never underestimate the task: Size isn't everything; it's the complexity that kills. Don't fall for the illusion that small tasks are always simple. These small tasks could include that uncomfortable conversation with an employee, co-worker, or client; or even preparing that report a week in advance rather than the night before like we used to do for high school and college papers.

Prioritize skill and practice: There's a reason Tiger Woods still practices chip shots and putting. Always be refining your craft, whether it's sales pitches, project management, or crisis communication. Consider this – technology is advancing at warp speed. Are you keeping up with the advancement of AI (artificial intelligence) and how it affects your business or career? On the human side, are you developing your communication and relationship building skills to become more effective leader? Many of the “soft skills” in business can be overlooked and/or undervalued. Don’t let that happen.

Flex your creative muscles: This is where business becomes a balance of art and science. Problems often require solutions that are as much about creativity as they are about analytical thinking. Tap into your inner Picasso when you're stuck in the rough. How to do this? Just as was mentioned in the earlier idea, we can all learn how to become more creative. We live in an age of instant information. We all have creativity within us. Be eager to try and embrace new methods to help you and your people grow. In this highly digital world, creativity and the the “art” becomes more valuable.

Keep your nerve: Don't let the stressors — be they financial pressures, HR issues, or competitive landscapes — derail you. These stressors are part of life. Accept that you feel them. Give yourself permission to have concerns but then don’t allow yourself to dwell in them. There is a simple, yet in practice, hard exercise to do. Inhale. Exhale. Swing. And then rinse and repeat as needed.

Manage expectations: I’m not talking about what others expect of you. Rather, it’s what we expect of ourselves. Too often, I will chunk a chip shot when I put too much pressure on myself. We can do the same in our daily living both professionally and personally. Unrealistic expectations will cause stress and anxiety not only in us, but others. Create realistic and achievable goals with contingencies for unexpected and uncontrollable events that always happen. Managing our own expectations will help keep us at the top of our game.

Then there is the dreaded — and potentially destructive — blame game.

We've all hit those "bad chips," and let's face it, sometimes it's easier to blame the wind or the caddie than to own our mistakes. Let’s avoid this. Accepting accountability not only builds character but also promotes a culture of responsibility within your team. The very best teams work collaboratively and with confidence in each other. Accountability and trust are the keys to success and there’s no room for blame.

Finally, turn every day into a “practice round.”

Look, if life and business were as easy as sinking three-foot putts, we'd all be on the pro tour. But they're not.

The late Kobe Bryant is quoted as saying that failure doesn’t exist. We are either succeeding or learning.  We all have plenty of opportunities to learn each day. Are we embracing those opportunities?

So, the next time you face what looks like a "simple" task, remember it's probably more like a chip shot — a task requiring skill, practice, and a strong dose of reality.

Because, trust me, that chip shot is always harder than you think.

Dan Weedin is a strategist, speaker, author and executive coach and regular contributor to the Kitsap Sun. He helps small business and middle market business leaders and entrepreneurs to grow more profitably and create a better life. He was inducted into the Million Dollar Consultant™ Hall of Fame in 2012. You can reach Dan at 360-271-1592; e-mail at dan@danweedin.com or visit his web site at www.DanWeedin.com.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: The illusion of 'easy'