One
of the primary roles of a leader is to focus their team or organization on the
most important goals and issues that will lead to high performance. This is no small feat. It requires strategic thinking and great
discipline.
Any
organization has many improvements it "could" make in its operations. But there is only so much time and are only so
many resources.
Leaders
need to make sure that they and their organizations are not distracted by
working on operational improvements at which they may already be doing “good
enough.” Some improvements are not going to
get you very far – in a strategic sense.
The
key is selecting strategic areas of improvement where you are good – but can become
great, maybe even fantastic. If being fantastic in that area will lead to overall long term success, then that is the place to focus.
You can't accept mediocrity, but you cannot be great at everything either. One
of the most important things leaders can do is to say “no” to certain proposals
– while pointing the team toward the strategic initiatives that will be the
priority. What do you need to say “no”
to today?
Management
guru Jim Collins* once said that “Good is the enemy of great,” and this is true
in many ways.
The
road to organizational excellence for enhanced Mission Impact is not an easy one – which is why so few find the
destination successfully. Focused
leadership on matters of strategic importance is key.
*Good
to Great, Jim Collins, NY: HarperBusiness, 2001.
For more ideas on how you can lead breakthroughs in your
organization, follow this blog and check out my web site at
www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com You
will find free resources you can download, including a Breakthrough Strategy
Workbook that you can download at no cost.
You can also check out my book, Mission Impact: Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits, and
buy it if you are interested. And you
can follow Sheehan Nonprofit Consulting on Facebook.
