Leadership Viewpoint

Some days it seems I am surrounded by people that talk about what needs to be done rather than simply doing it. They talk, meet, think, plan, ponder, consider, consult, compliment, coordinate, console, influence decision makers, impress senior managers and ultimately, little is accomplished. If only a tenth of that time were spent actually executing, productivity would skyrocket! It seems that in an effort to ensure that everybody is onboard and feels good, style has too often overtaken substance in the workplace.

People are very, very busy in corporate America. What I often find, however, is that they are busy with a plethora of non-productive activities. The basics of good time management demand that we attack our work in this order:

1. Plan
2. Communicate
3. Manage
4. Do

Lately, it seems a preponderance of people want to fumble about with the top three and hope that somebody else will take care of number four. As a result, too little is accomplished, and everyone is frustrated. Perhaps the information age has resulted in too many chiefs and not enough workers to execute the plans. More likely, corporate rewards are emphasizing appearances more than substance, and people instinctively gravitate toward whatever is rewarded.

Remember that the most effective leaders set an example of excellence, and that includes more than feel good talk. It also demands superb execution. Do it consistently, and others will willingly follow your example.

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