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IF YOU GET THIS Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive | The Four Disciplines at the Heart of Making Any Organization World Class | a book by Patrick Lencioni
YOU CAN USE THIS
DISCIPLINE DESCRIPTION HOW Build and maintain a cohesive leadership team Creating a group that understands each other enough to take the risk to be honest. Lencioni recommends the Myers-Briggs Others that are worthwhile and simple to implement include Learning Styles Inventory (which I think really helps understanding communication styles too) Create organizational clarity Clarifying the organization’s identity, direction, strategy, objectives, roles and responsibilities. Lencioni insists ALL staff be able to recite these WITH PASSION. While many organizations have these points, how well are they communicated inside? How well are they implemented? Does staff believe? If not, they will not live them. Over-communicate the identity and direction Require that people recite, with passion, the identity and direction. Grounding the organization…connecting the people with the points…but with humility, history and in a manner that helps employees become the company’s best “marketing tool”. Reinforce the organizational clarity through human systems Expecting staff to embrace the values. Hire and manage people based on the values. Lencioni suggests a hiring process that incorporates 5 interviews with values/behavioral questions asked in different ways to uncover the person beneath the rhetoric. Quarterly performance management forms with three simple questions were required by all staff: what did you accomplish, what will you accomplish next, how will you improve?
TO APPLY THESE
Definitely read the whole book…implementation and key content is set up, but clearly explained towards the end. Discuss the organization’s health beyond its economic strength, but from a holistic perspective…consider a Triple Bottom Line screen. Get the perspective of the Board and other stakeholders…do they care about the organization’s health? Take the pulse of the staff, from bottom to top…use a clearly defined survey asking the same questions in multiple ways.
THE NEXT STEP This is an easy-read book that on the outside sounds complex is really simple to understand yet will require discipline to achieve. It will require an organizational assessment and energy and resources determined to evolve. Here are a few ideas: do a snapshot in time visioning exercise to determine the organizational health “now” and then create the vision for a healthier organization. The key? Regardless of size, the organization will be sustainable if it is healthy throughout…not just at the top.
Sirius Resources creates and facilitates business and marketing strategy sessions to ensure you define and reach your goals with actionable ideas and objectives. Marylu Dykstra 616.868.6306 mdykstra@siriusresources.net