Yes...it's about systems and processes but a lot of it is about innovation, too.

Based on the phone calls I've been receiving the past few months, business owners, corporate and non-profit leaders have spent a good deal of time thinking about their organization and employees’ productivity. They want to impact their cost-saving plans and keep aligned with strategic goals for survival. 

There is much opportunity out there. Even in this current (and uncertain) economic climate including increased innovation, cleaning house of fiscal issues, and improving employee engagement and productivity. 

But it requires both a tactical and strategic viewpoint and approach. It causes us to step back and pay attention to things we may have been ignoring or putting off while we waited for the 'time' or the ‘right’ time to implement. Well, now is the time. This can be a great time to make different choices.

Is your goal clear? Are you clear on your personal goals? Are your business goal clear to you and others? The more focused you are on a specific goal, the more engaged you and your employees will become. Why? Because clarity drives a sense of control that reduces anxiety and helps a person feel better about themselves, their role and their work. In fact, there is an 86% correlation between how confident someone feels and their job performance. 

Do you have a strategy? Not just for surviving, but for thriving? Not just for your business, but for yourself and your family? If so, is everyone clear about the strategy? Without clarity comes anxiety and which is quickly followed by increased stress and unproductive behavior…2 things that drain energy and growth potential. 

Have you identified tactical paths both personally and professionally? Are your processes and systems documented and in place? Are they repeatable? Have you asked employees to contribute in sharing ‘how to’ do things better, faster, smarter? The more predictable and repeatable the activities are, the more efficient you and your team become. When tactics are committed to auto-pilot status, It frees up you and your employee's minds to do other more creative, important and perhaps profitable things

Of course, these are not just strategic or tactical issues. They are behavioral issues. If you have a habit of problem solving, it stifles the ability to innovate and create. But innovation involves climbing out of your comfort zone.

So take a step back and re-evaluate where you can innovate, create, imagine and implement to keep yourself and your employees engaged. Because engagement in this environment is critical...and can be lost quickly. 

To repeat what those of you who know me have heard me say again and again...

-get clear
-create a plan
-what's Plan B?
-execute, execute, execute 
-measure and then start again

It's what time management...and self management...are all about.