I was listening to a podcast from Pete Carroll (football coach), and his words caught my attention. Instead of the usual lingo (blitz, 2 deep zone, etc), he spoke at a higher level. He made a profound statement:
Know who you are.
I said, okay. But, I thought about the famous saying "I'm okay, you're okay," but quickly added "I'm okay, but you really need some work." So, I was very interested in how Pete was going to make the logical progress from all-accepting to achieving goals. His strategy was simple and worth repeating.
- Gameplan - Have a gameplan. Do we start each day with goals in mind, or are we just surviving? I hear more and more from my management friends, that their team "is just trying to survive". Wake up each morning with a gameplan and goals to be achieved that day.
- Language - This is all about communication. When I say "imperative" do you understand what I mean? When I say "strategy" or "tactics", are we communicating? If not, then we don't have the same language. Verbal exchange (face-to-face) needs to be the main methodology of communication in our world. Lessen those tweets, and cryptic emails - reach out and talk to your team.
- Consistency - The coach's comment was "say what you are going to do and then DO IT." If you manage people, be accountable to them. That is the most effective way to have the team reach its goals. If the management is not consistent in theme, presentation, and ACTION - you are destined for inefficiencies.
- Everyone on the Same Page - This may seem obvious, but usually the lack of 'same page' is one of the causes of team dysfunction.
- Build on Strength and Uniqueness - This one was key for me. Sometimes we struggle to expand, to do something different and miss the uniqueness that makes us special. Can you define your personal, team, and company strength and uniqueness? That is your BRAND. Leverage your BRAND, maximize your BRAND.
- Focus on the Task at Hand - Provide high-energy, focused energy to complete core tasks. There are lots of blogs and web sites devoted to this. My current belief is to turn off your phone, get to a quiet place, and get to the business of getting things done.
What surprised me, and encouraged me, was that the strategies noted above can be applied to so much we do in life: work, home, relationships, hobbies. The blueprint is above, now is the time to implement those strategies.
This post was originally published on David’s blog Connecting the [Data]…
David Haynes, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP
Ideate Director of Consulting
David is a Registered Architect, Project Management Certified Professional, who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design–build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently provides business process analysis, data integration, and change management solutions for AEC clients across the United States involved in the design and construction industry. Follow David on Twitter.