Leadership: How To Avoid Initiative Overload
In the fast moving world of business, it can sometimes feel to employees that they are on a conveyor belt, simply waiting for the next initiative to come along. While organisations need to be alert to the need to change things, there is a danger that this can turn into initiative overload. So how can you avoid this?
- A year is a very short period in the life of a business. In my view, businesses realistically need to be thinking about the direction of travel in terms of 3 to 5 year horizons.
To move forward over this time horizon, it’s essential to get crystal clear about what is and what’s not priority. Armed with this you have a basis for validating proposed initiatives against your agreed priorities.
- Of course all of your initiatives are likely to have some benefits. At the same time you want to avoid ending up with a bundle of resource intensive but low impact or low return initiatives. Look out for initiatives that are low to medium in resource need but have the potential to make big differences.
- If you notice that people are run ragged doing lots of stuff and this is not translating in terms of results or satisfaction, the chances are you are overloaded. This is the time to re-assess and re-prioritise.
Get Clear On Priorities
Prioritise Your Initiatives
Look Out For The Tell Tale Signs
The Bottom Line: Organisations do need to stay ahead of the pack. At the same time, initiative overload can easily result in a lot of effort and little in the way of results.
Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to become highly effective leaders and managers. You can sign up for his free audio e-course leadership success at www.goalsandachievements.co.uk.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.