I grew up in the country, where roads are “maintained” rather than “improved”, and where storm drainage can often be a challenge. So we were used to big rain storms (like last week) resulting in large puddles of water on either side of the road. We knew it was a big storm when the puddles met in the middle and stretched across the entire road (and as kids, it meant that some excellent “mud biking” was in store). A day or two after the rain had stopped, someone would notice the puddles and put up a warning sign like the picture above.

This always struck me as humorous. Everyone who lived on our road, or used it on a daily basis, had already been navigating the puddles for several days by the time these signs started showing up.  We already knew, or had learned the hard way, that caution was needed. So what was the point of the sign?

When is a warning sign most effective – before something dangerous or unwanted happens, or after it occurs?

What about your business – are you getting timely warnings before adjustments are needed, or just historical indicators telling you that something has occurred? What are the key performance indicators that drive your business? How do you get accurate and timely feedback about these key measurements, so that you can react when adjustments are necessary?

Think about your potential warning signs and put them up early.  Let people know what they mean and how to avoid the problems that could arise.  Prepare a plan to follow to get you around the potential pitfalls.

And please, drive safely this week!