Snapshot of organization-wide initiatives can be crucial

February 24, 2014 at 2:22 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Many organizations are driven by a formal strategic plan that keeps everyone focused on actions that are aligned with, and contribute to, reaching established organizational goals. Yet, other organizations may create a plan but find themselves more driven by their current demands and—then later—they review the plan to see how well they did.

Either way, if you’re leading an organization, here’s what I consider to be a crucial question you may want to ask yourself: Could I easily view a comprehensive snapshot/document of the multiple initiatives being implemented in my organization, and will it allow me to see how the organization is doing against the goals within those initiatives?

Whether you lead a small or large business, new plans are consistently being generated across the organization, some of which are happening within silos. One succinct overview of your organization’s (or your) current key initiatives will help you:
– Stay on track towards established goals
– Be proactive where follow through is needed
– Realize and explore further when efforts are potentially overlapping or inefficient
– Be aware of overly robust initiatives or over-stretching your employees*
– Avoid missed opportunities to acknowledge and validate current successes and the people that helped to achieve successes.

* Another past entry that may interest you as an extension of this topic: Too many initiatives may hinder success.

Initially, creating that snapshot could take a fair amount of data gathering, planning, and documentation. Yet, once that master document is created and a process is in place for periodic input and updates, it could provide an awesome guide and useful tool to help you effectively lead and move your organization forward.

What’s your experience?

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Just touching base….

February 10, 2014 at 1:14 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

I’m away on a vacation as I write this. I decided to travel for a week to CA and AZ to visit some of my favorite cousins and girlfriends. Being that I’m away, I thought about skipping this post but February marks my seventh anniversary of blogging and I’ve been diligent about posting every two weeks—so I thought I’d touch base in honor of appreciating those of you who read and re-visit GET REAL.

I’m enjoying every minute of being away, and my hosts have been wonderfully hospitable but one of the best things about traveling in my experience is returning home to familiar ground with a renewed sense of appreciation for the small and significant rituals and the relationships in our lives. Even during tough times, if possible, taking a brief break in the day-to-day and re-entering with a renewed sense of strength can be very worthwhile.

Although I offer no leaderships tips or communication tools today, I do offer this brief reminder that an interruption in our normal life rituals—whether it be at home or away—can be replenishing. I highly recommend it.

“See” you in a couple of weeks.

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