I recently had a client express concern about her inability to get to tasks she knows are really important. Despite her good intentions she finds herself consumed by busy work that causes her to come up short. Sound familiar? It is a challenge many leaders face. Tasks we know are important are often in the form of “little things”, as I call them. The activities that we know are essential to lead effectively, but are so elusive. So why are the little things so difficult to execute? Shouldn’t “little” be easier? In the real world we become consumed by our busy environment, and when capacity gets tight it is often the little things that get pushed aside. Following are 5 “little things” that when developed into habits will significantly improve leadership effectiveness:
We all know how important it is to recognize worthy performances, but it is a task that is often overlooked. An Achievers survey of employees across multiple industries concluded that 69% considered recognition and rewards a top factor to remain with their current employer. It even ranked higher than compensation. Our most talented and driven employees are most fulfilled professionally when they achieve results and are recognized for them. It is very important for them to know they are growing professionally. Recognition does just that. High performing organizations understand how important recognition is to developing a performance driven culture. They also know it is crucial to retain talent! Take the time to recognize performance either formally or informally.
It is hard to make good decisions in the midst of a crazy day. A hyper busy schedule has a way of taking over and causing time to be spent on low impact activities. Carving out 15 minutes of quiet time at the beginning of every day, or at least once a week, can be enlightening. Use the time to reflect on how you are spending your time, prioritizing activities, or thinking about who needs your leadership attention. It can sharpen your focus and position your day for success. Get more control of your day by beginning with quiet clarity.
When done right there is no better leadership activity than engaging your team in one-on-one meetings. Yes, it is easy to put them off when you are in the middle of a busy day. But they are much too important to allow that to happen. A Harvard Business Review survey suggests that employees who get meaningful one-on-one time with their leader are 67% more likely to be engaged. The meetings are also a great opportunity to elevate your situation awareness. They help identify friction points, surface opportunities, and help you know where to focus your attention. A regular cadence of one-on-one meetings will improve connections and yield exponential results over time!
The volume of information and the pace of change today make prioritizing a to-do list challenging. What was important a yesterday may not be as important today. Successful leaders are thoughtful about how they are spending their time. Consider approaching your to-do list as a brain dump of things on your mind, and then be super scrutinizing in identifying the tasks that are most important. Sometimes it means saying no to projects or tasks you enjoy doing. This practice can help narrow your scope and ensure you are making meaningful progress on high-impact activities.
When driven to maintain a busy schedule it can be difficult to keep a close pulse on your organization. Feedback from subordinates and peers is essential to maintain situation awareness and identify blind spots and friction points that are slowing progress. Not getting feedback can cause leaders to have a skewed impression of how things are really going. Genuine and honest feedback is too important to ignore. Leadership performance very much depends on having a good grasp of the situation. Asking for feedback is step 1, being open to hearing feedback we may not want to hear is an essential step 2!
These practices though simple in theory are very difficult to consistently execute in the midst of daily rigors. However, when they become habits, they can have a significant impact your leadership effectiveness. They provide clarity, alignment, and perspective that are necessary to navigate long-term strategy (the big things). So don’t under estimate the importance of the “the little things”. Master them and you are creating a strong organization foundation capable of achieving great things!
As an advisor Joe partners with executives to expand their capacity to develop high performing teams and organizations. Learn more about advisory services at: