It’s almost inevitable: You’re sitting around the table with your team, planning out your project, when some well-meaning soul announces “We need to make sure that we’re following best practices with (fill in the blank).
Heads nod vigorously. “Of course!” Oh, absolutely!” “We don’t want to re-invent the wheel, now, do we?”
Adhering to whatever your industry considers to be best practices is the default position for many organizations, and for good reason: There’s no sense in repeating avoidable mistakes for which smart people have already invented a remedy.
Play it Safe, or Take the Plunge?
But how often do you stop and ask yourself exactly why you’re following best practices in a given situation? Before you simply apply a paint-by-numbers solution, take a moment to answer the following questions:
- Do the unique variables in my situation map closely to an existing best practice solution?
- Am I just trying to cover my ass?
- Is there an opportunity to invent a unique approach that can translate into a competitive advantage?
- Is the goal of the project to maintain a position, or to advance to a better one?
- Can I defend a non-BP solution rationally, with facts, figures, and educated predictions?
What it boils down to, is you need figure out whether or not the tried-and-true approach aligns well with your overall business objectives, or whether those objectives are better met by embracing a certain level of innovation and risk. If your goal is to set youself apart from your competition in some way, then you really have no choice: Pick your spots wisely, but be prepared to buck convention. Do it well, and it’ll be someone else’s turn to debate whether or not to adopt the best practice that you invented.
Image: “Sheep on the Road,” by adulau on Flickr