It can be difficult to start managing our business in a proactive manner when we have the habit of acting on what we are presented with. Once we become effective and see the difference first hand, the level of improvement far outweighs the effort and trauma to change.
Are you ready to go? Getting started is as easy as 1-2-3:
STEP # 1 – Obtain a clear direction! Think of your business in three compartments…running the business, growing the business, and having a constant flow of quality leads. There is an ebb and flow to these three factors. By focusing, we keep each in perspective and avoid ignoring one at the expense of the other.
Step # 2 – Communicate and define the key result areas for each compartment. Be clear on the interpretation, understanding, and key performance indicators for each of the key result areasmeas. Hire, assess, and improve on the necessary talent. Within each of the three compartments a number of actions need to be executed. Clearly define the work to be done. Crystallize what is important, who is going to take responsibility for the action, and when the action will be completed.
Step # 3 — Provide for methods of accountability. Review the work for alignment purposes. Like gears in a gear box, the things that are important need to be in synch or they work against each other. Different parts of the organization pull in different directions by design. We always need to be focused on the customer first.
Once you have completed steps 1-2-3 the key repeatable cycle is Planning-Organizing-Prioritizing-Finishing. This checklist simplifies and standardizes how to manage getting things done as a cycle as opposed to randomly:
- Know your talents and build on your gifts. We cannot be all things to all people.
- Be aware of your beliefs and make good choices. We need to discern what actions are
consistent with our beliefs. - Accept responsibility and hold yourself accountable. No excuses. Look at yourself objectively.
Surround yourself with relationships that are honest and upfront with you. - Examine what you expect and inspect what you expect. People want to be clear on what’s
expected of them. They will respect what you inspect. - Assign actions and provide consequences for the actions. Consequences can be positive or
negative. Let people know when they do things well. - Harvest the results by having goals and key performance indicators. We have to measure our
success. We want to celebrate when we do well and recalibrate when necessary.
There are compelling reasons to use a repeatable process to manage. To name a few:
- By doing things in the same way over and over, we are able to discern what works well and what
needs to be improved. - Standardization takes the ‘busy work’ out of tasks and improves efficiency.
- People know what to expect and it takes the surprises out of day-to-day management decisions