The best executive teams avoid the weeds and focus on strategy. How do you do this when the weeds exist in a comfortable space? We feel confident in the weeds. We understand the weeds. We know how to pull them out. Weed pulling creates instant gratification for gardeners. Our strengths, competence and talents know how to destroy the weeds.
The problem with weed pulling is that it keeps us from seeing the entirety of the picture. Often, we miss the root, but next week the same problem emerges. I have this problem with my garden. There are weeds that keep coming in and I pull them without the root. I wonder why they return. I trade instant gratification of their removal for the root cause of the weeds themselves.
As in business, you must address what is happening beneath the surface. Strategic topics include – the key measures, objectives, change initiatives, organizational structure, culture, core vales, people, mission, vision and market strategy.
Weed topics include –an onboarding plan for a new hire, deciding the color scheme for the office, fixing the login issues, the design of the client deliverable – essentially the work that others on your team can and should do. When your team continues to recirculate topics again and again this is a warning sign that you are back in the weeds and not moving forward on the strategic.
How do you stay out of the weeds?
- Call it Out
- Define Strategic and Define Tactical
- Encourage Strategic Thinking – Recognize when it happens
- Ground Rule – No Weed Whacking
- Develop your strategic plan – not your tactical plan
What works for you?