What’s movement without a purpose?
When my organization moves, it’s for a purpose. I bet yours does, too.
It’s probably easy for you to read this, sip your coffee and agree. It’s not quite as easy to open a full inbox, solve problems for staff members, track your team’s initiatives, and answer a barrage of media queries without losing sight of your purpose.
Commanders need staff leaders to understand the organization’s purpose, and articulate their team’s direct alignment with this purpose. PAOs, put down the camera and use these tips to focus on securing your organization’s resources, authorities and operational support.
State your purpose. Know what you want to achieve? Write it down. Share it with your team. Put it in an e-mail a face-to-face discussion. Like everything, start with why and make it about lasting effects, not mere efforts.
Ask others. What do your teammates want to achieve? If they don’t know, BPS and have a conversation. Fire up the old task tracker. If the team doesn’t know what they’re out to achieve, synchronization may be your most important task.
Establish urgency. “The boss isn’t banging our door down for this product, so we’ve got some time.” Gross, no thanks. Set your own urgency and finish tasks because you want them finished, regardless of external factors. After all, time is your most limited resource.
Check in often. “What do I want to achieve?” Ask it when transitioning between tasks, walking to new engagements or dialing phone numbers. Is the answer the same thing you wrote down earlier? If not, what came in and sidetracked you? If so, how come it’s not already done?
Having trouble finding purpose? Look in the mirror, odds are you already know what to do.
This lesson started with my Grampa, a MaxDisclosure reader who demanded teenage Dave C. move and work with purpose in the summer heat. Thanks, Gramps.
(Photo by Sgt. Trystan Jordan, DVIDS)
