Caution and carefulness often seem to have become a convenient excuse for not taking action, a way to avoid the effort needed to gain the knowledge and skills essential for achieving reassuring safety and successful execution. Naturally, we should avoid recklessly putting ourselves in risky situations. However, the frequent emphasis on caution and carefulness appears to be more about providing self-comfort, serving as a means of emotional and social absolution from potential responsibility.
Consider industrial work in a factory where there are many direct and potential dangers. You’re doing a routine job and following safety instructions, but then something happens that is not covered by the routine or the instructions, and you need to deal with the situation. How effective and safe is carefulness in this scenario? You might feel safe and in control under normal conditions, but unexpected issues like a machine malfunction or a sudden safety hazard can arise at any moment. How prepared and competent are you to handle these situations if you solely rely on being careful?
Or consider public speaking, a frequent challenge in the professional world. You might be careful and print out your presentation and read it through. But what if you get nervous, or face unexpected questions, a tough audience, or technical issues? How far does carefulness and a printed copy of your speech take you in these unpredictable and potentially stressful scenarios? This also highlights the wisdom of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s saying,
“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”
It’s the process of planning, developing competence and adaptiveness, that truly prepares you for unforeseen challenges.
If you’ve gained the necessary knowledge, developed the required skills, and practiced various techniques in these areas, you’re more likely to navigate these situations safely and successfully. However, relying solely on being careful, without the necessary skills and adaptability, could leave you floundering, either freezing up or reacting in panic during a factory incident or faltering in front of an audience. Carefulness only works as long as nothing happens.
The Navy SEALs have a motto originating from the ancient Greek soldier and poet Archilochus:
“Under pressure, we don’t rise to the occasion; we sink to the level of our training. – Thats why we train so hard.”
Carefulness alone doesn’t prepare us or help us rise to the challange. Competence, on the other hand – fostered through knowledge and practice – not only enables us to manage risks effectively but also empowers us to anticipate and adapt to potential challenges.
How do you approach challenges in your professional or personal life, with carefulness or with competence?
JL Wallenberg
jlwallenberg.com 