Just One Thing
The “Just One Thing” series is predicated on the assumption that change takes place one step at a time. Like throwing a pebble into a pond, your one small action can have a far-reaching ripple effect at work for you, your firm and of course, in your personal life.
Too many strategies and corporate plans (and even our personal improvement plans) outline lofty challenges in heady words, but they fail to provide the clarity necessary for us and for our teams to move forward in an integrated fashion.
These statements …a mission, a vision, a strategy sound beautiful on the surface, but like a beautifully wrapped empty box, once the surface layer is peeled back and we peer inside, there’s nothing there for us to seize. And then we add our own interpretation.
Why are we doing this project?
What is this committee here for?
Why does this team exist?
What does adopting this strategy mean for me, my work and for the work of my team members?
We all process and interpret statements, words and ideas in a different manner…and to different conclusions about what they mean for us.
Without striving for clarity, the leader leaves her intentions open to interpretation and at risk of promoting disjointed actions. This is the opposite of her intent.
Challenge without clarity breeds confusion. Effective leaders always add clarity to challenge.
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Another good post Art,
Your questions help teams from just going through the motions and getting back to discussing things that matter .
Mark Allen Roberts
Thanks, Mark! We spend a great deal of time on things that don’t matter. Anything that helps us get back to the right issues is important. Cheers, -Art
A great reminder about the power (and necessity) of clarity. In my experience, poorly identified outcomes are at the root of most unsuccessful projects, whether they be personal or professional. As a business coach, I believe the most effective tools in my toolkit are powerful questions, especially those that demand a client stop and seriously consider WHAT they are setting out to accomplish and WHY.
And like most great writing, clear outcome statements are free of $10 words and jargon.
Great post, Art!
~ Shawn
Great comment, Shawn! From projects to people, clarity is essential. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Art
[…] it proves to be more difficult.” Art Petty, from his Management Excellence blog, presents Just One Thing: Always Add Clarity to Challenge. Here’s Bernd Geropp, from More Leadership, Less Management, with Micromanagers and the […]
Enjoyed this post and so true. So many times I have seen people have a never ending list of roles and responsibilities (42 in one instance) and then their bosses wonder why they never achieve anything.
When I work with clients I always ask them to define their top 3 priorities and then to ask their boss what he or she sees as the priorities. Amazed how often there is a disconnect.