When the Bridge is Out…Willingly Take the Detour!

You’ve likely experienced it. You’re driving along, heading to your destination; when all of a sudden…BAM! There’s a detour. Darn! That happened to me recently as I was riding my bike. I came upon the bridge that crosses the water…and it was OUT! Darn! I had to take an unexpected route.

When this happens, you might be thinking, “this is not what I need right now.” It will surely add time and stress to your route; and possibly make you late for an on-time arrival. How are you going to handle it?

The road detour is something we’ve all had to manage at one time or another. Yet, we encounter many types of detours in business, life, and leadership.

IN BUSINESS: Perhaps revenue numbers were impacted this month due to distribution issues, and you didn’t receive an anticipated shipment. No shipment. No revenue. DETOUR!

IN LIFE: You may find yourself in a situation where you have to postpone a trip because of an illness or an accident. Compromised health. No trip. DETOUR!

IN LEADERSHIP: You may not have the number of team members needed with specialized expertise to finish an important project. No team members. No project completion. DETOUR!

In the moment…a detour seems like an impossible interruption of the planned route. But detours may yield unanticipated benefits.

The road detour takes you through a storybook town with Victorian houses and tree-lined streets with old-fashioned lampposts for street lights and red, white, and blue flags on every storefront. The slower pace makes you notice the beauty of this tranquil village and appreciate American freedoms.

The revenue detour leads you to find a new supplier with better pricing and shipping guarantees that you can pass along to your customers to provide better service.

The health detour reminds you that health and vitality trump a trip every time; and you pause to take care of yourself and count your blessings.

The staffing detour inspires you to be more proactive with recruiting and hiring to avoid talent shortages and project delays in the future. 

In reality, each of these tours delivers unforeseen benefits that can make you rethink your route and help you navigate toward something better.

So, the next time you encounter a detour, don’t let the immediate frustration overwhelm you. Instead, think about the unexpected benefit that might be coming your way. How might you use this moment to look for the value in an unplanned route, find a new way to better serve clients and customers, practice gratitude for health and vitality, or take proactive measures to improve your future?

When the bridge is out…always willingly take the detour! And look for the unexpected value that comes from navigating an alternate route.