Impatience often gets a bad rap, but when channeled strategically, it becomes a powerful force in executing strategy. The right kind of impatience drives focus, accelerates outcomes, and transforms strategies into action.
Let me share something personal. In my early career, when I was asked what my biggest weakness is, I replied “my impatience”. Fast forward to this year, which marks 25 years since I first launched my business. In 1999, I registered the company name “Carlin Consulting Group” because I couldn’t think of anything better at the time to get going on my first gig. Over two decades and 50+ transformations later, I’ve refined my tools and approach based on the lessons I’ve learned. And I’ve recently changed my business’s registered name to The Turbochargers Pty Ltd.
Why the change? Because I discovered my edge is actually what I used to think of as a disadvantage: impatience for results. In a sea of pedigreed consultants, other ex McKinsey folks, coaches and MBAs, my ability to rapidly cut through resistance to build momentum for strategy has become my superpower.
Impatience doesn’t mean rushing. It’s about moving swiftly with precision, building projects that align with the culture and environment, and setting up a structure that propels tangible results. It also means mitigating risks, so you increase both speed and success.
Here are three ways to use impatience as a strategic advantage.
3 Tips to Leverage Impatience Strategically
- Leverage resistance into insights
Resistance isn’t just a roadblock; it’s feedback. It highlights misalignments between your strategy and the organization’s culture. Use resistance to refine your messaging and adjust your plan. - Map cultural accelerators
Within every organization, there are informal networks and influencers who can speed up adoption and execution. Find these key players to create momentum and ensure alignment with your strategy. - Set a strategic cadence
Impatience doesn’t mean chaos, it means urgency with structure. This means a structured cadence and execution architecture that will set you up for success.
This approach fosters a motivated and aligned team culture. By creating a natural pull toward goals, you ensure consistent progress and meaningful results.
Please forward this to someone else who would benefit from it.
Quote of the week
“The speed of the team is the speed of the leader, and the culture they foster.”
John Maxwell, American Author, Speaker and Pastor
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Thanks for reading Turbocharge Weekly. I’d love to hear how you’re driving results faster in your team. 😊🌱📈 |
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About Lisa Carlin
Lisa Carlin is a Strategy Execution Specialist. She works with business leaders to plan and execute their strategies in tough environments. Her clients love having her expertise and guidance to navigate their workplace culture and use AI to achieve success.
Lisa created The Turbochargers Hub, so leaders can master the art of strategic influence and generate momentum for organizational change.
Lisa is author of the globally acclaimed newsletter, Turbocharge Weekly, read by 8,000 business leaders.
Lisa’s career includes roles at McKinsey and Accenture, then running her own business since 1999. Over this time she has delivered over 50 implementations with a 96% success rate.