What’s The Risk?
Lessons from a Log
“Make the choices that make you nervous. If you make the choice that’s the easy way out, that wasn’t the big vision or big choice to make.” –
Eileen Burbidge
Over the summer I would cross this log regularly as part of a running route. It offered an additional dimension for functional fitness. The alternative route was slightly longer but much easier terrain, particularly in comparison to the steep climb of the far bank. The more times I crossed the log the more confident I became. I understood what it was like underfoot, my sense of balance became instinctive. I’d cross it slightly faster each time until I hardly broke stride. The same went for negotiating the steep far bank. Becoming familiar with the roots and hanging branches up to the point that I no longer needed to consciously think about it. Although slightly reducing the distance of the run the dynamic movements required on this route had considerable benefits. For the first time in months, I ran the route again. On reaching the log, this time I hesitated.
Although the situation was basically the same the conditions had changed. It was the same log, but I’d lost the familiarity. The river was slightly higher and faster flowing which changed my perception of the obstacle. The log was wet and the far bank muddy. However, negotiating the obstacle still offered considerable benefits so I opted to cross it. I was more cautious and gave myself more time. I lost my balance but having maintained a level of fitness and core strength was able to steady myself, quickly recover and move on. The muddy slope on the opposite side also meant I had to ensure each foothold was secure before committing my body weight to it or assuring the movement with a hand hold or an alternative escape route that wouldn’t result in me ending up a muddy mess in the river below. All went well, negotiating the log and reaching the top of the far bank was harder than previous crossings, the physical and phycological benefits increased. I will use this route again, try to improve my performance and will continue to do so until the risk, of winter ice or swollen river run offs, outweigh the rewards.
This is the same basic principle that can be applied to risk management or a metaphor for other aspects in life. The ‘Log’ like all threats presented the options to accept the risk, mitigate against the risk or avoid the risk. When doing so, understand the situation and the potential rewards, accepting that things might go wrong. If they should, then do you have the capability to recover quickly. In other words, do you, or your organisation, have the resilience to maintain business continuity. Not answering this question honestly is the biggest risk. Most organisations will be able to pull out a file with procedures and plans to follow in the event of something happening. To be successful, to remain agile it needs to be more than just a plan but a plan that has been tested, updated, understood by the stakeholders and their part in it so it can be implemented timely, and communicated clearly in an effective manner. It would be over restrictive to plan for every possible eventuality. The known threats are simple, for everything else you need to understand where you can be knocked off balance and how, or where, you can continuously prepare to react if required or avoid if necessary. Managing risk also has similarities to the principles of functional fitness. In as such that a multifaceted approach that reaches across and includes all the different functions works best, especially when underpinned by the ability to do the basics well.
People aren’t ‘comfortable with uncertainty’ but with good leadership, forethought, planning and preparation they can be ‘comfortable being uncomfortable’ and reap the rewards of it.
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