Dakota Indian wisdom says that when you discover you are riding a dead horse, it is best to dismount. In associations (as in business); however, we often try other strategies/tactics including:
- Buying a stronger whip.
- Appointing a committee to study the horse.
- Seeking “best practices” on what to do with a dead horse.
- Increasing the standards to ride dead horses.
- Saying things such as “This is the way we have always ridden this horse.”
- Creating a training session to increase our riding ability.
- Hiring experts to find new uses for dead horses.
- Doing a cost analysis study to see if contractors can ride it cheaper.
- Declaring the horse is “better, faster and cheaper” when it is dead.
- Purchasing products to make the dead horse run faster.
- Providing additional funding to increase the horse’s performance.
Too many spend hours debating and scarce funds trying to revive the dead horse.
Like it or not, the best thing to do with a dead horse (or a dead program) is to get rid of it and find a new horse.