Symptoms posing as problems muddy the business waters

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Leanne Hoagland-Smith. | Provided photo~Sun-Times Media

Updated: December 11, 2011 10:47PM

“I’m so crazy busy I can’t think straight.”

“It seems like nobody really wants to work here.”

“Boy, I wish my sales people would hit their sales quotas.”

Probably since mankind started engaging in commerce, these statements or similar ones along with countless others have been heard or thought.

When these remarks are analyzed, the essence is all about exceptional execution that being getting to the desired results in the most efficient and effective manner. Sure there is execution (activity) going on, but according to ongoing business research failed execution (failed activity) is still one of the top challenges facing organizations regardless of size.

So why all the inabilities to hit the targets be them increase sales, improve productivity, decrease turnover or reduce costs? In the majority of instances, the problem is confusion between symptoms and problems. As noted at the beginning of this article, those statements are truly symptoms of at least one if not more leadership and organizational problems.

Believe it or not, the following simple exercise is the place to start is to end the confusion. Now this exercise will not automatically improve execution, but it will truly separate the symptoms of poor execution from the real problems. Note: You may wish to hire a trained facilitator to ensure this activity stays on tract because the results from this activity tend to create some angst among the participants.

1. Schedule 30-60 minutes in a conference room depending upon the size of your executive team including vice presidents to managers

2. Gather your executive team into this meeting

3. Instruct all mobile devices to be turned off

4. Pass out a piece of paper with the following statement: Please list the top three goals of this business as you perceive them to be

5. Share that this is an independent exercise and collaboration with other team members at this time is not required

6. Survey each team member for his or her three responses

7. Ledger the responses on a flip chart

8. Multiple responses should be noted to the far right side of any response

9. After the last person shares his or her responses, tally up the number of goals listed

10. Allow the flip chart to speak for itself

The flip chart should only have three (3) goals. Anything more than three indicates the real problem is a lack of clarity creating misdirected and misguided actions. The more goals means even greater confusion and the creation for more misses. All of these misses waste precious resources and produce even more tension and stress within the organization.

What is interesting to note in the years I have utilized this simple exercise, in over three quarters of the instances the right hand to the CEO or President had only two of the president’s top three goals. What this suggests beyond a lack of clarity is truly poor communication by leadership and is usually the result of no written and comprehensive strategic action plan.

So take this exercise and use it as my gift to you to make 2012 better than 2011. Next week, I will share another gift to keep the progress moving forward.

P.S, Shout Out: Much of our economy here in Northwest Indiana depends upon manufacturers supported by other small businesses. In Porter County, DLZ Engineering and over in Lake County Superior Engineering provide professional services. Remember, hire local first.