There are many ways to do fine work. One approach is to follow the path taken by some great workers. Such people focus on the following steps.
They clarify the picture of success;
They follow strategies that work;
They don’t get distracted by spoilers.
Different people follow these steps in different ways. Let’s explore how they sometimes translate these into action.
They Clarify The
Picture Of Success
This is an approach followed by individuals, teams and organisations. When leading a team, for example, a person may take the following steps.
They make clear contracts with their key stakeholders, such as the C-Suite, about the real results to achieve – the picture of success.
They make clear contracts about the key strategies to follow – those most likely to work – to increase the chances of achieving the picture of success.
They make clear contracts about how they will keep their stakeholders informed and the support needed to achieve the picture of success.
Imagine that a leader has taken these steps. They may then produce something along the following lines to crystalise the goals.
They Follow
Strategies That Work
Imagine that a leader has made clear contracts about the results to achieve. During this process they will also explore the key strategies to follow that will increase the chances of achieving the picture of success.
Great workers aim to follow strategies that work. Different people arrive at these in different ways. One approach is for them to consider the following themes.
What are the real results we want to achieve? What are the strategies we can follow that are most likely to work? Bearing this in mind, let’s study what works.
When have we or other people tackled similar chances successfully? What did people do right then? What were the principles they followed? How can we follow these principles – plus add other skills – to tackle this challenge successfully?
What are our strengths? What are the resources we have available? What are the advances in technology that we can use? How can we use our strengths and these resources to do your best to achieve the goals?
If we were starting our team today with a blank piece of paper, what would we do? What would be the strategies we would follow? How would we translate these into action?
Bearing these things in mind, what are the key strategies we can follow to give ourselves the greatest chance of success? How can we then keep reading reality: a) to build on what is working; b) to tackle areas for improvement?
Imagine that a leader and their team has explored these themes. They may then complete the following exercise.
Great workers translate the strategies into action. They aim to do superb work, find solutions to challenges and keep working towards achieving the picture of success. This sometimes also involves taking the next step.
They Don’t Get
Distracted By Spoilers
Imagine that a leader and their team are following the strategies and have got some successes. They also aim to stay on course rather than get distracted by spoilers.
Great workers aim to anticipate and, as far as possible, prevent any unnecessary distractions. These could include external critics who want to sabotage their efforts, internal dramas or unexpected events.
Bearing this in mind, such workers may explore the following themes. They then make their plans for preventing or, when necessary, managing such issues. Here are the topics they may consider.
What are the things we can do to continue to stay on course? What are the potential issues that could distract us on the way towards achieving our goals?
What are things that other people – such as those with other agendas – may try to do to sabotage our efforts? What may be the internal dramas – such as people not performing or other things – that we could face?
What could be the external events – such as changes in the market or technology – that could create challenges? What other issues may arise that could potentially throw us off course?
How can we prevent some of these things happening? How can we do our best to manage these challenges if, despite our best efforts, some of these do happen?
Looking ahead, how can we then aim to stay on course? What are the practical things we can do to keep focusing on the results to achieve? How can we then do our best to achieve the picture of success?
Imagine that a leader and their team have explored these themes. Whilst continuing to focus on continuous improvement, they also recognise it is vital to stay on course and not get distracted by unnecessary spoilers.
Bearing this in mind, they may then do the following exercise. This can, of course, be updated as they continue on their journey.
There are many ways to do fine work. One approach is to follow the path taken by some great workers. Such people often focus on the following steps.
They clarify the picture of success;
They follow strategies that work;
They don’t get distracted by spoilers.
Let’s return to your own work. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of this approach? How can you do this in your own way?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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