We know what they do. Our fears are quelled. Hard to be much clearer than that!
Most people are blind to how much time they and their organization are wasting. The farther they are from the production line, where both flow and snags are usually quite conspicuous, the more true this is. The National Center for the Middle Market shares Ann’s tips on How to Create a Work Culture That’s More Productive.
The corporate world has enjoyed huge leaps in productivity over the last several decades, but all of that improvement has been focused on physical processes, not cognitive processes. Our production lines, ordering, purchasing, picking, and shipping have all been streamlined. Anytime we are moving physical product, or even paper, we are focused on efficiency. Not so with our cognitive processes. The way we think, communicate, and make decisions is just as sloppy as ever. Our mouths are veritable Pandora’s boxes in their ability to create and disseminate confusion. Words and ideas, once cut loose, can be as tough to corral as wild horses. We do not have the shared cognitive processes and language needed to quickly agree on where we are and what must come next.
Companies that would never tolerate disruptions to a production line tolerate sloppy thinking and massive confusion every single day. I bet you’ve seen some examples already today!
Uncommon Clarity will save you time. But that’s not all. Clarity will also improve profits, morale, confidence, and results. Listen to why you need clarity now!
“How will we know when we are done?” When I meet prospective clients, this question immediately follows those focused on objectives. I want to know exactly what my clients hope to accomplish and then I need to be sure we are in complete agreement as to what we would see if we were making progress and how we would know we were finished. Since I don’t simply deliver prepackaged content and since I am totally outcome focused, I can’t operate any other way. What I don’t understand is why anyone would want to operate any other way. When you launch a big employee engagement program, how will you know when you are done? And don’t tell me you will survey all employees, scrutinize the results, and identify needed changes. Those are tasks and inputs, not outcomes. Will attrition decrease? Will employees volunteer for greater responsibility or encourage their friends to join the company? Will you be called in to fewer low level decisions? What would constitute real evidence that you have engaged your employees?
The deadly earnest executive team talked while I awaited my piece of the agenda. Five minutes in, I interrupted. “Do you have any idea how many different topics you are discussing? How many decisions you are trying to make?” They were incredulous, insulted, irritated, but silent. From the notes I’d been taking, I listed the five decisions and two plans under discussion. Irritation was quickly replaced with recognition, which was just as quickly replaced with new energy. The clarity I created by enumerating the seven topics instantly paved the way for rapid progress. The order in which those decisions needed to be made was now quite obvious, each discrete decision was relatively easy, and both plans obviously needed to be postponed until some of these decisions were in place. Clarity creates breakthroughs in speed, quality of results, commitment, and confidence. Unfortunately, clarity is rare. I have repeated this experiment countless times with equivalent levels of shock and acceleration of progress. Try it yourself. The next time you are in a meeting, make a note of the number of topics under discussion. Ready to create the clarity that produces better results faster and with greater confidence and commitment? Let’s talk: Ann@UncommonClarity.com or 603-784-5727.
The skiing was great in Vermont this year. From mid-December through early April, the snow, on average, made for one of the best seasons I can remember. Even when conditions are great, there is the occasional slope that gets scraped off early, which totally changes the way I ski. When I can’t trust the snow, I can’t go with the flow, can’t attack the hill. I slow down and ski more defensively. Like a broken promise, it spoils the fun for me. My best clients of all sizes know that employees are held back in the same way when they can’t trust their environs. When people know what to expect, they can get in the zone and attack their work. When surrounded by confusion, shifting priorities, broken promises, or unreliable processes, they have to slow down and be more defensive. It spoils their fun, but also their productivity, commitment, and enthusiasm. The costs are enormous. There is one important advantage to skiing however. When it stops being fun, you can always just quit and head for the bar, the sauna, or a good book in front of a toasty fire!
If you’ve been a client or colleague, read my publications and articles, heard me speak, served on Boards or committees with me, or just know me personally, you know that one of my absolutely undeniable and most valuable skills is creating clarity. Thus, every time a well-meaning person endorses me on LinkedIn for something LinkedIn thinks is an important skill, I am a little annoyed instead of pleased. I would really appreciate it if you would help me set the record straight right now. Please visit my profile on LinkedIn and scroll down to the skills section. Click on the one labeled “Creating Clarity.” Let’s move this little lost label to the top of the list where it belongs! I thank you for your click! Note: If it won’t let you select it, scroll down and click on the yellow button “View Ann’s full profile” and then scroll down on that page instead.
I have a pen that explodes. The spring is stronger than the plastic threads meant to keep it in one piece. When the tip touches paper, it is as likely to fly apart as record my thoughts. I keep it because it was sent to me as a free sample when I first started my business and I thought it was pretty cool to have my logo on a pen. Three or four others showed up over those first several months, but this one was special. It’s the only one that explodes! In branding, memorable is good, right? Your brand should attract attention and lodge itself in the memories of your customers. Exploding pens are memorable! Why didn’t I buy hundreds of them?