Are front and center in conversations with clients these days.

Because when change and growth are rapid, it’s costly – for you and your organization – not to identify and focus on where you matter the most.

Below is an abbreviated version of the three step process I use with clients.

First, identify your strategic priorities (notice I didn’t say urgent).  Typically no more than 5, yours might be a variation on the following:

  • Meeting or exceeding growth projections
  • Vision/setting direction/inspirational leadership
  • Building human infrastructure (including your deputy and your team)
  • Clearing obstacles so those people can fly
  • Managing up with acumen/forming alliances/being visible internally and externally to the right stakeholders to advance initiatives/being where you need to be to make the difference

 

Next, consider the following questions to help identify areas of success and challenge:

  • What are the most effective ways for communicating your vision and inspiring the troops and are you connected to the vision and meaning of what you’re leading
  • Looking at your immediate team: Are they able to function without pulling you into the weeds (aka Self-Correcting℠); Do you have the right talent for now and as you grow; Are you clear on the responsibilities of those roles; Are you anticipating the additional roles needed for continued growth; Do you have an outstanding deputy; Are you able to delegate with confidence
  • Beyond your immediate team, are you forecasting where you’ll need to be filling and/or creating positions to support current and impending growth
  • Are you anticipating bumps in the road before they happen and are you able to smooth the way
  • Are you clear on which key stakeholders are integral to your success and are you tending to those relationships, managing them effectively, creating buy-in, and gaining alignment
  • Are you visible where you need to be internally and externally, where it’s your presence that makes the difference

 

Lastly: Identify when and why you’re getting pulled away from your strategic priorities and into the weeds.  This will help you to further pinpoint where changes are needed.

If you want to make a real plan for getting out of the Quicksand Effect rapidly and with success, go here to register for this intensive workshop with me on January 11 from 10-3 ET.

If you’re not able to be strategic, you’re not able to truly lead.