Achieve Swift Decision-Making with This Effective Strategy

By Andrew Lenti , MD at TOPP Tactical Intelligence

The Perils of 'Firefighting'

Many leaders, submerged in the day-to-day operations, struggle to elevate themselves from the trenches hindering their ability to focus on the broader vision of cultivating and expanding their empire. This is the famous expression working IN your business instead of working ON it.

The incessant 'firefighting' cycle not only hampers strategic thinking but also jeopardizes leaders' reputations, turning their start-of-year commitments into seemingly unattainable aspirations.

In the fast-paced realm of business where urgency often overshadows strategy, C-level leaders find themselves entangled in a web of constant tasks, risking the peril of 'analysis paralysis'—a state of inaction that stifles progress and innovation.

To break free from this cycle, leaders must adopt a transformative approach to manage business activities by categorizing them into three distinct pillars: running the business, fixing the business, and changing (aka growing) the business.

A Strategic Framework: Run, Fix, Grow

Fortunately, with a bit of organisation and tact, C-Level leaders can intelligently group their activities aligning them with special focus moments when they need to either be delegating, providing coaching, or being fully engaged in hands-on tasks.

To navigate the challenges of business leadership, we offer a practical methodology—separating activities into three vital categories: Running the Company, Fixing the Company, and Changing the Company.

Running the Company: Streamlining Operations With Daily Standard Work

In the domain of Running the Company, C-level leaders hone in on optimizing processes crucial for ongoing operations. Here, they not only prioritize tasks with precision, preventing analysis paralysis, but also focus on formalizing best practices. By documenting and standardizing procedures, leaders cultivate a culture of reliability and efficiency, providing a foundation for growth. Additionally, they leverage automation to support daily standard work, automating routine tasks for enhanced productivity and error reduction. This strategic approach ensures efficient resource allocation, directing efforts where they yield maximum impact, and establishes a dynamic framework for continuous improvement.

To further support your efforts in this area, we are excited to announce a free 1-hour webinar on June 19 . This webinar will cover automating standard work using our standard work management platform, Presto PDCA, now available in a freemium version for standard work. Check out Presto PDCA here.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to streamline your operations and boost productivity through automation. Mark your calendars and join us for this informative session !

Fixing the Company: Amplifying Urgency and Accountability

In Fixing the Company, leaders excel in adept issue management, discerning when to delegate, coach, or engage hands-on. This proficiency instils confidence, enabling well-informed decisions to prevent operational issues from escalating.

Embracing the Plan-Do-Check methodology, leaders inject urgency and accountability into issue resolution. Strategically planning, executing, and evaluating actions accelerates problem-solving and cultivates a culture of continuous improvement. This approach not only efficiently addresses current issues but also empowers the team to actively participate in identifying, solving, and learning from challenges. The result is an agile and responsive organization, ready to navigate operational hurdles with precision and adaptability.

Changing the Company: Navigating Strategic Transformation

Key to the successful execution of any strategic initiative lies in building a robust change management program internally.

To support the execution of strategy, it is essential to establish a Project Management Office (PMO) with a clear mandate to work transversally across the company. The PMO should ensure that all stakeholders are consistently informed about the accountability and urgency of the commitments to which their staff have agreed. This level of transparency and communication is crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring that everyone is aligned with the company's strategic objectives.

Differentiating between activities that sustain current operations and those that drive innovation is fundamental for effective resource allocation and business growth. Integral to this process is the use of an action prioritization matrix. This tool empowers leaders to categorize projects accurately, distinguishing between quick wins, major endeavors, and necessary yet unglamorous tasks.

Furthermore, recognizing and expressing gratitude for staff involved in less glamorous yet essential work is vital. This acknowledgment prevents discouragement and maintains a motivated workforce capable of steering the organization through both innovation and day-to-day operations. By fostering a culture of appreciation and accountability, companies can navigate strategic transformations more effectively and ensure sustained success.

See you on June 19!

We invite you to join us on June 19 for our free 1-hour webinar on automating standard work using our innovative platform, Presto PDCA. This session will provide valuable insights on how to enhance your operations and boost productivity through effective task management and automation.

If you're not already utilizing our Run-Fix-Change the Company business management platform, consider signing up for our freemium offer online .

Presto PDCA features three specialized dashboards that separate run, fix, and change business activities, each displayed in a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) format. This setup ensures clarity and efficiency in managing your business processes, making it easier to track progress and implement improvements.

Don't miss out on this chance to optimize your operations and take your business to the next level. We look forward to seeing you at the webinar and supporting your journey towards greater efficiency and success.