Leaders should think.
There are volumes of research on the topic. There are thousands of business books that remind us to keep an eye on the big prize, the strategic objective – the golden goose.
Lots of PAOs feel like they are massively busy. There’s always another query, the organization feels like it’s in constant flux, near disaster and the boss wants to be sure the Facebook page has current and kitschy (but not too kitschy) posts.
We all want to be employed in a purpose driven organization with a purpose driven job. Good news, if you’re in the military, you are. You defend the country, you take care of the people who do.
We’re purpose driven but busy.
Make time.
One summer day in North Carolina I drank a cup of coffee, then a beer, then mowed the lawn. I’m not fat and I was well hydrated so I didn’t die. While mowing I was thinking about work, because I think work is important. I had an epiphany. I stalled the mower and texted some of my coworkers. They were on board. On Monday, we built the program, it changed the organization.
It wasn’t an earth shattering idea. It was just a way of combining the many thoughts and ideas we had already been working through. I took some time to think. To think about what we were trying to achieve overall, and suddenly the single tasks we had been working on became a holistic organization-wide program.
My boss can be hard on his aide to camp. He presses the aide for executive time. He presses him for preparation time. He knows how important it is to think. He also knows how easy it is to slip into the here and now.
Great spokespersons we’ve worked with also prioritize time to think. Instead of cramming and stressing before a press conference, one stepped out for a long run in the Iraqi sun, saying it kept him fresh and focused before the engagement.
Take a minute to look at your fish tank and consider what the hell you’re trying to do. Beer and coffee help.
Now go an do likewise.
