Did you know the Post-It Note was created in 1969 by 3M? The original yellow color was actually used because it was the color of scrap paper int the lab. But today, the Post-It’s versatility and use is often an office environment’s lifesaver tool. In fact, there is even a Post-It Note app! My friends at WorXSolutions use post-it notes to help clients understand visually how their business flows. That “visual” makes a real difference to the team.
Think about your goals for 2015. Now imagine if every member of your team had those goals “posted” throughout their work environment as constant reminders of where and how to focus their efforts this year. Powerful isn’t it? As a leader, you can create a “sticky strategy” to ensure that same effect occurs.
These three tips will help your goals “stick” to team and “stick” to results.
1. Short and Simple wins the game.
In two to three short sentences, your priorities should be described in a way that enables your team to understand what and where to focus their energy and resources. If it takes a ten-minute explanation, your message may be too complex. This doesn’t mean your strategy doesn’t have depth but the over-arching purpose has to be simple. If you can’t explain it easily, how can your employees do the same?
2. Help the team Connect the Dots.
Great leadership always has an individual impact. If your employees’ perceive their job as simply “the job” and don’t understand how their ideas, creativity, service and dedication link back to the “why of the business”, marginal performance is likely. Clarity drives engagement. And engagement drives focused performance.
3. Target Practice matters.
This principle is perhaps the greatest obstacle for teams who want to be great. What does this mean? A multitude of projects and tasks may be good things for the business but if they are not linked directly to a strategy, they can easily become a non-value add to the bottom line. It is that alignment that allows the team to prioritize and even reject seemingly good initiatives. How much time is wasted on this “good” work versus meaningful performance? Falling short of this discipline is the small degree that can make or break your success.
So, get your sticky notes out. 2015 awaits for great things from you and your team.
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Well said Kayla.