Tis the time of year when we reflect on the past while staring down potential. We quickly formulate a list of goals and priorities. Some might be holdovers while most focus on new initiatives.
Minimizing inefficiencies and time management are of ultra importance in our plan of attack. Mix in the required amount of focus and we have a formidable recipe that relies on three not-so-simple ingredients. The ingredients aren’t complex in and of themselves, but getting them to work in harmony can be another story. It’s like hitting the third game on a three team parlay.
A big reason that we fall short at moving the needle forward is because we don’t put a dependable process in place. A team goal must have a system built around it and there’s no reason to waste time, energy and resources on something that is destined to fail. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Less is More
Get real about prioritizing. You can’t do everything well when it comes to larger initiatives especially in a concurrent fashion. One per quarter might be a reasonable place to start.
Evaluate Process
Define who will be involved and develop a process. What resources are needed and will diverting them cause stress in another area of the business? Most likely it will. This shouldn’t be enough to stop things from moving forward, but you should have a plan to fill the gaps.
Reinforce Buy-in
Revisit with each member of the execution team and make sure they are fully on board. This should focus on two areas. Each member needs to have the bandwidth to contribute effectively and a shared belief in the importance of the mission.
Make a Plan
Time for a good old fashioned foolproof plan. It would be great if those actually existed. Develop a timeline with key deliverables, a communication rhythm and make sure to select an accountability lead. You need to have a dedicated person overseeing the work and pushing the team when necessary.
Activate
Get moving! I believe in moving forward with a controlled sense of urgency and expect the same from the team at Spiracle Media. It has been said a time or two that the competition doesn’t sleep. Stay ahead.
It all comes back to maximizing efficiency, managing time and focus. If those aren’t viable pieces within your plan of attack, it’s worth re-evaluating. Make 2018 the year of “relevant” work!
Visit our work section to view some of our recent projects.
