Download - Managing Flawless Execution in Business
Managing Flawless Execution in BusinessPeter Aldino June 16, 2009
What is Flawless Execution?
* Flawless Execution Is :
A Business Strategy Involves Rapid Planning Uses Creative Focused Teams Requires Disciplined Execution Continuous Review of Lessons
Learned
*Jim “Murph” Murphy F-15 Strike Eagle Pilot
What happens to Flawless Execution when:
There’s too much to do Not enough time Not enough tools Not enough resourcesPeople crack , lose track -
They channelize -
focusing on one thing to the exclusion of all else
The #1 Obstacle to Flawless Execution:
Task Saturation Overworked - Task
Saturated people are dangerous
Many accept overworking as a badge of honor
Don’t take pride in overworking“We’ve been in the office for three days straight. Some of us are sleeping on the floor. Another guy is walking around like a zombie with his hand tied to a coffee pot.”
The Three Signs of Task Saturation are:
Shutting DownQuittingStop performingGoing blank
CompartmentalizingActing busy Doing little
ChannelizingFocusing on one thingIgnoring important requirements
Shutting Down Symptoms –
Quitting– I’ve had it …– I give up …– There’s too much to do ….
Progress stopsIntervention is required to restart a quitterTime gets wasted, deadlines are missed
Fixes –Take a break, a walk, get a coffee Do something simple, clear your headRecognize shutdown and get back on track
Compartmentalizing
Is Very Risky – Acting busy, but doing little Organizing tasks instead of
doing them When doing tasks:
it’s all top to bottom one at a timefirst things firstno prioritiesnothing is urgent
Compartmentalizing usually won’t get noticed until something breaks
Channelizing
Target Fixation Intense focus on one thing Flying into the ground
Digging in to one thing at the exclusion of all else
Things start to fall apart
Three Ways to Combat Task Saturation
1) Use Checklists• Use simple tools
• Easy to learn and deploy • Gets people back on
track
2) Create effective crosschecks• Teams or pairs work together
• Validate task urgency• Validate task execution
3) Provide mutual support• Create depth to offload tasks
• Have a succession plan
Flawless Execution without Task Saturation
It’s not a badge of honor, learn to deal with it
Understand the warning signs
Acknowledge it exists Acknowledge it creates
problems Identify the symptoms Work to eliminate it