When managers complain of shifting priorities handed down from leadership, the culprit behind the confusion is more often than not a lack of clarity on the part of leadership about the organization’s vision. The one common behavior I find most often is that leaders crowd their calendars, their desks, their minds with an overflow of activity (have you counted how many meetings you attend, lately?) “Busy leaders are a dime a dozen, but highly productive leaders are not so common” says Mike Myatt in his newest book, Hacking Leadership.
My question to the leader is always: “If you, the leader, are not doing the thinking, the visioning, the planning; then who do you think is?”
Therefore, my ONE resolution for a leader in 2014 is to dedicate regular time to Reflect, Assess and Prioritize. Your job is to lead others. You must take time to reflect on what went well and what needs more (yours or someone else’s) attention. This is your thinking time. Time to imagine how the company’s vision will look. I’ve known leaders who do this daily, weekly, or even monthly. The best of the best will take time at the end of each quarter as well as at the end of the year.
Tools to have handy: the strategic plan, your monthly goals, list of most persistent problems, or an inspirational book you are reading. If you can do this in an environment that fosters imagination and innovation, you will definitely gain some momentum. And, if none of these do it for you, grab a blank notebook and a pen.
Go to your calendar right now and block out one hour next week. I’ve yet to meet anyone who came back and said it was a waste of time.
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