4 Tips to get things going!
To do or not to do is a question that leaders keep asking themselves. The higher you grow up the ladder, the more frequent this question arises. The larger context needs to be evaluated and it is always the local optima versus the global optima. In this dilemma, often most things get stalled without proceeding further. This often results in frustration, laziness and a perception of lack of time and unnecessary urgency. Leaders going through this phase often transmit this negative vibes to others around them.
These could happen because of a. personal b. systemic c. people-related reasons. Here are 4 tips for you to get thing going:
Personal Habits
Most people who complain of procrastination or delays experience a certain paucity of time in their lives. One good way to change this is to wake up as early as possible. Waking up early gives a perception of having a lot of time at hand to gather as much information as possible about things and decide on the course of action. Research reveals how the night owls displayed less attention, memory etc compared to the morning larks. If a small portion of the night can be allocated to planning for the next day and thinking through it, the next day morning can be more productive and directed. Too little sleep and too much sleep, both can be unproductive. Finding the right balance is the key.
Team
Teams are very valuable. Several studies have proven that teams are better than individuals as they bring valuable information from several perspectives. So don’t try to decide or do alone especially when there is a dilemma. Involve a small group of people who you trust. Studies on teams have proven that while small teams are productive, large teams are a bad idea. So consult a small group and do not get lost in the suggestions of a large group of people. With growing size of teams, there is a possibility of Ringelmann effect which is the tendency of teams to become less productive as the size increases.
Timeliness
A stitch in time saves nine. So do it when it matters most. As yourself “Are the most important things that are to be done urgently been done?”. If not, may be you should pay attention to those things first. May be you could use the Eisnehower Matrix to map what is urgent and important. The penalty for not actionating on these could be much higher than not doing because one was confused. This prioritization helps to take care of short term as well as long term goals by taking up things that matter the most.
Think before discussing
While consulting team of people you trust definitely helps, some amount of secrecy can avoid discouragement and pre-mature termination of the planned action*. People who are not of the same wavelength raise questions based on their own fears and insecurities. If this cannot be handled, it is better that the matter is discussed after it is sufficiently chewed in the head. Panic situations are often created when sufficient thought is not given before bringing up things at meetings. What are the actual concerns? Will the team be able to look at them objectively? Who do I discuss this with? These are some questions that can be asked before verbalizing concerns.
Mahabharata Reference
These tips are based on the questions raised by Narada Maharishi to Yudhishtira before the Rajasuya Yagna in the Mahabharata. They appear in the Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva. Narada poses several questions on leadership, time management, people management and infrastructure to Yudhishtira. The questions also give insights into the dimensions a leader needs to take cognisance of.
*Chanakya also says “ Guard your intentions like a mantra. Reveal it only after its done”. [मनसा चिन्तितं कार्यं वाचा नैव प्रकाशयेत्। मन्त्रेण रक्षयेद् गूढं कार्य चापि नियोजयेत् ॥]
