The skiing was  great in Vermont this year. From mid-December through early April, the snow, on average, made for one of the best seasons I can remember. Even when conditions are great, there is the occasional slope that gets scraped off early, which totally changes the way I ski. When I can’t trust the snow, I can’t go with the flow, can’t attack the hill. I slow down and ski more defensively. Like a broken promise, it spoils the fun for me.

My best clients of all sizes know that employees are held back in the same way when they can’t trust their environs. When people know what to expect, they can get in the zone and attack their work. When surrounded by confusion, shifting priorities, broken promises, or unreliable processes, they have to slow down and be more defensive. It spoils their fun, but also their productivity, commitment, and enthusiasm. The costs are enormous.

There is one important advantage to skiing however. When it stops being fun, you can always just quit and head for the bar, the sauna, or a good book in front of a toasty fire!