I drive my clients crazy with constantly asking them what is the biggest thing that your team could do to make an impact in your business; to move the needle.? When we figure this out through discussion, I ask next “Does everyone in your organization know this? Do they know that this is the focus, the main thing, the strategy that will move the needle???” Once they share with me what they believe to be a key strategy in their business I then asked them about it every meeting. I go back to that “thing”.
Today I started reading Tom Peter’s book The Little Big Things. On page 5 (I just started it!) is this excerpt:
Want to make a program “strategic”? Put it at the top of every agenda. Make asking about “it” your first question in every conversation. Put the person in charge in an office next to the Big Boss. Etc. (Talk about powerful messages!)
Yes, I totally agree! We have all heard about prioritizing and focus, but there is so much “stuff” to get done we don’t really prioritize or focus. The concept of identifying and focusing on key strategies is not to completely ignore all of the other day to day tasks and initiatives (although you probably should ignore some!). The point is that if something is “strategic” and it will make a “big difference” than you do not want to dilute the impact of the strategy. To insure that does not happen, we need to:
Put it at the top of every agenda. Make asking about “it” your first question in every conversation. Put the person in charge in an office next to the Big Boss. – Tom Peters
I’m not making this stuff up – see it is even in Tom Peters NEW (2010) book!
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