1. __ Leslie W. Braksick, Ph.D.
THE TIME
IS NOW
Focus on long-term goals to avoid being consumed by short-term problems
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many months or years down Seek feedback. Solicit
When
was the last time you had
the road has become an
unaffordable luxury.
feedback from those with
whom you interact without
relying solely on your "inner
more than five uninterrupted Reclaim your time to circle."
minutes to just think? How focus on the future. Decide The worst thing you can do
about 10 minutes to focus on what not to do. Stop kidding is isolate yourself from any
something beyond the next yourself about your capacity information on how things
two quarters? to take on more work and are really going. Feedback is
Companies that seize the give yourself the freedom to your best leading indicator
opportunity to plan, strategize say no. of future success or
and build wisely for the future If you cannot readily make failure. Letting patterns of
are the firms that quickly the connection between a ineffective behavior continue
outpace their competitors given task and a key business in your organization will
when the economy recovers. driver, drop it. A common I guarantee that you are never
With the frenzied pace to "just mistake is scheduling back-to- able to get your time under
do something" back meetings with little or no control.
that a down time to process information or
economy creates, focus on the long-term future Track and acknowledge
even the brightest opportunities. progress. Identify metrics
and best leaders to measure your individual
fail to take Stop trying to be a work on longer-term issues
sufficient time to hero. Reject the idea that and diligently track progress
focus on the long- a successful leader is the against those measures.
term strategic "rugged individual" doing all Track personal progress
opportunities. of the work and making all on longer-term goals to
They are being ofthe decisions. Challenge ensure that you are moving
swallowed by the yourself to delegate things forward. Celebrate small
urgent, short-term that can be done by others. wins. Executing longer-
things demanding Engage others to stretch and term plans is about making
their attention grow. Seize opportunities to steady, meaningful progress
- requests from delegate. Others will benefit over time.
the boss for from knowing you are taking You cannot afford to
details on the steps to focus on the long-term be too busy to think
current situation, of the business. about your future. What
explanations you say and do sends a
for the board, Take care of yourself. message about what is
detailed rearview Get control of your time by most important. If it is OK
descriptions on why the making good decisions about for you to forego work
numbers are down, etc. They your health and fitness. Your on longer-term items, you
are losing their time to think capacity to think clearly and should expect others to do
about the future. make effective decisions is the same. Don't leave work
Executives' days are filled a function of your physical on the future to chance.
with back-to-back meetings, health. Sleep, nutrition and These are tough times and
e-mails, voice mails and physical fitness are often the require tough choices. You
answering calls from others first things sacrificed when must manage today and
with urgent problems. time runs short. lead for tomorrow. «
They have no time left to
comprehend the information
coming in from forecasts, LESLIE W. BRAKSICK, PhD, is co-founder of CLG Inc. and author of 'Preparing CEOs for
reports, articles or competitor Success: What I Wish I Knew" and "Unlock Behavior, Unleash Profits." Braksick consults with top
analyses. Having the time executives and their boards on issues of executive leadership succession, leadership effectiveness
to focus on things that are and strategy execution. Reach her at Ibraksick@clg.com or www.clg.com.
6 Smart Business Pittsburgh I January 2011