4X “On the Business” Productivity
Working in and consulting with companies, I typically see hard-working people who are trying their best to make a difference. They work long hours to serve their clients, resolve vendor issues, and keep a strong culture.
But when it comes to strategy, they are ‘too busy’.
In my experience, most companies “do strategy quarterly”. Which means, they may agree to a quarterly strategic initiative that may require 12 hours of dedicated effort. I typically observe the ‘strategic team’ will convene at the beginning of the quarter. But then, they get too busy. A week before the quarterly management meeting to review the strategic initiative, employees react to the deadline, work long hours, and ‘throw-up’ the status report. It’s about checking the box; rather than ‘being strategic’.
The Productivity Killers
There are two “killers” to strategic productivity, email and your phone. According to Blaz Kos at SPICA, “the average worker is interrupted between 4 to 12 times every hour. That’s one interruption, every 15 minutes, in the best scenario.” And the Get Abstract Journal, University of California, Irvine, says it takes 23 minutes to refocus after an interruption.
It’s hard to be strategic when you can’t focus.
The Solution
Calendar your week, for one Captain Strategy Hour and one 10-minute feedback review with your strategy team. Plan ahead for what you are going to do before you start your effort. During this One Hour, turn-off all unnecessary browsers, Slack, email notifications, and your phone. Go to a location without people, walk-in interruptions. Work, solely on that effort. And finish your weekly strategic effort during that One Hour. Review your effort in the 10-minute feedback review to assure you are on track, and plan your next week’s Captain Strategy Hour.
If you do this for 10-12 weeks, you will find yourself looking forward to that quarterly strategic review, rather than trying to avoid it. Your strategic initiatives will start working and have higher quality results. Give it a try…you will find a massive return.
Unexpected Turns and Highlight of the Week
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to connect with my siblings and their family in Albany, Oregon. It was great to see everyone together. It was almost two years since the four of us had been together. And by the way, Lisa, Happy Birthday, and praying for you.
Sometimes AI, in particular Waze, can bring you to surprising places. I love Waze, because I can’t stand traffic. I am willing to drive through 7 country roads to avoid sitting in traffic.
This past weekend even surprised me, it took us to a tiny ferry across the Willamette River. There are only 3 active ferries in Oregon, and that was the first time, in 43 years, that I had been one of them. This is the picture from the top of the blog.
The rest of the family didn’t seem to appreciate this AI event. I think a lot of people don’t like the direction of AI…more on that in a future blog. |
