What’s working and not working?

Words of Wisdom / By

Words of wisdom for this week.

“Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another.”
~ John Dewey

How often do you ask your employees – what’s working and what isn’t in our organization?

Just ask your executives, managers and employees to answer three simple questions:

  1. What are we doing that is working?
  2. What are we doing that is not working?
  3. What did we used to do that used to work – that we are no longer doing?

These three critical questions can keep you traveling in the right direction in all areas of your career, business and life if you will ask them often enough and pay close attention to the answers you get.

The purpose of this exercise is to ensure you are:

  1. Focusing on the right things in the right way.
  2. Letting go of stuff that isn’t working.
  3. Re-evaluating career, business and life from a past as well as future, orientation.
  4. Stretching yourself or your business into new areas of development.
  5. Experimenting with new strategies, attitudes, policies, approaches, philosophies and skills.

Many people are stuck in old ways of thinking, doing and believing that just are not working for them anymore. Many managers, executives and business owners are bogged down in products, policies and approaches that just are not working anymore. Why? Fear? Comfort? Indecision? Arrogance? Ignorance? Ego? Politics? Who knows!

What are you holding on to?

  1. A product that has outlived its purpose, usefulness or profitability?
  2. An unproductive or negative employee that is sabotaging the productivity of a department or the entire organization?
  3. A policy that should have been changed months or even years ago?
  4. An attitude or prejudice that is getting in the way of your personal effectiveness?
  5. A management style that is counter productive even sabotaging your organization’s or department’s success?
  6. A procedure that is confusing or counter productive?
  7. A habit pattern that is keeping you from improved effectiveness?

Why not spend some time on these 7 questions to see if you can uncover any areas that need modification or abandonment. If you feel really secure why not put these questions to some of your employees or direct reports. If you want some great new ideas on how to better plan, direct or lead your organization into the future, give me a call.