In this article, I’d like to share some of the feedback that I’m getting from my clients in recent weeks about just the challenges they are facing in their operations, and in spending more time firefighting and focusing on reactive issues than being proactive and focusing on improving their business.
I just want to reiterate the dangers we can have with distractions as leaders, such as becoming distracted by not-so-important issues. My core message has to do with sharing some of the strategies we work on with our clients. I specifically work with my clients to ensure that they stay focused.
Prioritize Your Top Goals
The first one is to ruthlessly prioritize. It’s important to be clear about what the top two to three priorities are for the organization. Once you have those priorities, make sure there are clear metrics around them, that you understand what they are, review them daily, and track your progress. There should be continuous improvement based on these priorities.
Lead with Questions
The next part is ask, don’t tell. When you’re working with your leadership team, ask good questions: what’s working well, what’s not working, and what can we do differently? Focusing on questions like these brings all the experiences to the table; it invites people in and encourages discussion. Use those opportunities to reiterate the vision, focusing the team on what was brought up today. These are the things you want to prioritize.
Reiterate the Vision Through Visibility
Reiterating the vision involves being present on the shop floor, ensuring that you are out there talking to the team and witnessing the issues firsthand. As a leader, it is crucial to have empathy and be understanding, especially if your team is working long hours or overtime. Engage in conversations with the team about these matters, using those opportunities to reconnect with the vision.
Accountability
As leaders, when we enter firefighting mode, it can sometimes lead to a tragedy of the commons, and we may not be sure who is focused on what. When things become very stressful and you’re fighting fires, ensure there’s clear accountability and that everyone understands what they’re doing and how they are contributing to the overall goals.
Protect Strategic Time on Your Calendar
For you as a leader, block time on your calendar. Make sure you’re not postponing necessary tasks, whether it’s strategic planning, performance reviews, or difficult conversations. It’s easy to create excuses for delaying these matters, saying you’ll do them later. Instead, put those tasks on your calendar and do them when due.
Seek Mentorship and Outside Perspective
To wrap up here, seek mentorship. Make sure that you’re getting good advice when issues arise. Think about these problems, but if you’re not sure, surround yourself with good people. Ask for advice, talk to folks, and try to understand how you might look at a problem differently.
Stay Positive
Lastly, just stay positive. As leaders, many of the teams will see you; they’re looking at you. You may not always think that’s the case, but it is. If you’re stressed, your team is going to be stressed, so keep a positive attitude. Hopefully, those things help. If you’d like to learn more about how business coaches assist businesses in accelerating their growth and achieving success faster, please reach out.
My name is Brent Rasche, a licensed executive and business coach with a rich background in leading teams in the automotive and consumer products sectors. Having served as President at Fibertech Plastics and in senior roles at SRG Global and Masterbrand Cabinets, I specialize in operational excellence and strategic leadership. I’m passionate about empowering other leaders to harness their potential, improve operations, and drive substantial growth through focused coaching and proven methodologies.
