Where are You Taking Your Business?

This coaching tip was originally published in the Coaching for Excellence newsletter.

If you’re frequently changing direction based on client demands, team emotions, or industry trends, then you’re not leading. In order for your team to trust you, they need to believe you know where you’re taking them.

If you constantly change your mind and don’t know what you want, it will be reflected in your team’s performance. They’ll tire of not making any real progress because you’re chasing shiny objects. Further, they’ll lack the confidence to take ownership and initiative because their work isn’t fully utilized.

More time and energy are lost when the leader lacks clarity and vision.

@theceoffice

To build their confidence and trust, take the time to prepare, be clear with directions, and be consistent. It allows them to know what, how, and why their work matters.

Captain of the Boat

When you’re leading a team, you’re the captain of the boat. You want everyone working in the same direction. Can you imagine a boat out on the lake changing directions repeatedly? It would take forever to reach its destination.

Calibrate Your GPS

Clarity and confidence starts with planning ahead versus being reactive. What’s your North Star? Where are you headed? I recommend blocking time in your calendar to answer these questions.

• Daily (~5 min): What needs to be accomplished to win the day?
• Weekly (~15 min): What are the top three objectives for the week? I recommend using the Weekly Team Memo to provide direction for your team’s efforts.
• Monthly (~30 min): What’s the status of quarterly projects? Do any adjustments need to be made?
• Quarterly (~90 min): What projects need to be completed for progress on annual goals?
• Annual (4+ hrs varies with business size): What goals will move your business forward in achieving the company vision and mission? What is each team member’s role in achieving the goals? If you need help getting started, download the Business Planning template from the Workspace Catalog.

“Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments.”

neil strauss

Stay on Course

• Clear Agenda. Outline the agenda and define the ideal outcome of your meetings. What needs to be decided or discussed? What loops need to be closed?
• Clear Assignments. Be clear about the desired outcome when delegating a task or project. If you don’t know what you want, it will be difficult for a team member or vendor to deliver.
• Clear Requests. Be clear about your ask when emailing clients, team members, or vendors. What do you need specifically? When do you need it by? Include both of these in the first paragraph. Then use additional paragraphs to provide context. This makes it easier for the recipient to understand and respond.
• Clear Individual Goals. What are the goals of each team member? How do they support the business goals? How do they support their own career development? Check in monthly to measure progress and discuss strengths and challenges.

You will not know all the steps in advance, but it’s your responsibility to prepare your team for the next step (clarity and confidence) and to keep watch ahead (vision). It starts with you mapping the course. Let’s go!

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