Because you’re a MaxDis reader, you already have established a purpose for your organization. It probably has something to do with communicating in order to ensure your organization has the ability to accomplish its mission.
Every once in a while, maybe annually, you need to ensure what you DO is aligned with your purpose. Here’s an easy way:
- Revisit Your Purpose: Talk over your purpose with the entire team. Is it still right? Is this purpose meeting the needs of the organization? Check it.
- What We Do Discussion: Pull out the old white board with the team and list out every single thing you do. List out everything that takes any amount of time. You might be surprised at some of the shit you’ve acquired to do over the past year. Time is our only limited resource, figure out how your team is spending it.
- Give it the Test: Now your team should quickly examine each one of the things your team does. There are only three ways to categorize each task. Category 1 are things which contribute to your purpose. Category 2 are things which have been directed. Use category 3 for the tasks you have no idea why you do.
- Lead Category 1 (Purpose): Take a look at the category 1 tasks and be sure they are still smart. If they are help your team create systems and processes to do them efficiently. Enable your team to slay these tasks like a ISIS courier.
- Lead Category 2 (Directed): Public affairs shops are directed to do a lot. You have three choices – STFU and do the task, tell the person who directed you you’re no longer going to do it, or just don’t do it. This takes some guts and organizational wasta.
- Lead Category 3 (IDFK): If your team is doing something and no one knows why you do it. Stop doing and pay attention to see if anything happens. I bet nothing will happen. You’ve just relieved yourself of that time consuming item.
That’s it friends, you’ve just enabled your team to be better. If you did this right, what you DO is no aligned with WHY you exist. This little exercise frees up time and when you free up time, you can do more category 1 things.
Now go and do likewise.
Photo by U.S. Coast Guard District 11
