This Quick List is a companion piece to our Leadership Quote of the Week.
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
Stephen Covey
It’s such a nice, simple quote with a catchy ring to it. Most people, though, find that keeping the main thing the main thing is not so simple.
Here are 10 tips for keeping the main thing the main thing.
1. Decide.
We start with a real zinger. Even tougher than keeping the main thing the main thing is deciding what it is.
We’re responsible for so many things. How in the world can we identify THE main thing?
One strategy is to answer the question by role and by time frame. For example – what is the main thing at work? What is the main thing at home? What is the main thing today? This week? This month?
If there is something specific that your team, department or group needs to accomplish between now and the end of the year – then it’s critical that you are focused on that as the main thing.
So – what is the main thing for your team in December? Is it to:
- add new business?
- collect receivables?
- get ready for a new product launch?
- get the office packed up for a year end move?
- help others in need?
- enjoy the holidays?
2. Share.
Whatever you determine as your main thing. Share it with:
- your boss to make sure he/she agrees with what you’ve determined as the main thing.
- your colleagues so that everyone on your team is focused on that same main thing and so they know how their work fits in with yours.
- those who live under the same roof with you so they know how to support you.
Sharing will help you clarify, reinforce and commit to your main thing. It will help others know how to support you. And it will give you common language for discussing progress, obstacles and a basis for dealing with conflicting priorities. You will also be providing for them a valuable model for the importance and power of prioritizing.
3. Help team members determine their main thing.
After you share your main thing, it may become obvious what their main thing is. But maybe not. In most offices, there’s too much to do…..and not enough time.
Here’s an encouraging note from the Management Toolbox* website:
“20% of our work time is lost doing unnecessary things“*.
That’s a full day in a 5 day work week!
Do we really fritter away that much time? I find that part discouraging. The encouraging part of it is…it’s possible that some of us are doing far more than we really HAVE to do. Wearing ourselves down and out in the process.
Take a look at this fun but all too real depiction of office life these days. You might even share it with your team to raise awareness and kick off a discussion about what it’s like in your office and what tasks or actions might be unnecessary. Help them dump some of the unnecessary so that they can focus on the main thing and they will likely love you for it because it will help them accomplish and achieve. Great for morale. Great for productivity. Great for a happier holiday season.
Grab the popcorn and enjoy this just over three-minute movie.
Note: Too Much To Do is a song on Sparkadia’s debut album called Postcards.
4. Schedule time.
Schedule time on your calendar to work or focus on the main thing. Just like you would schedule a meeting…even if no one is in the meeting with you. Commit to it like it’s a meeting with your Board of Directors.
5. Keep the main thing top of mind.
Whatever the main thing is, write it at the top of your task list or calendar or whatever device you use. Or write it on an index card…easy to tuck into your shirt pocket.
6. If there’s interference from other things that don’t qualify as the main thing…
a. Look for things to stop doing. For more on this, see: 10 things to stop doing.
b. Look for things to – GASP – leave undone. See more on this in: Salute to Undone Heros.
7. Remember that the main thing may change over time.
Re-visit the question frequently with yourself and your team.
8. If feeling overloaded or overwhelmed,
use this question to re-focus: What is the main thing right now?
9. Help everyone on your team stay focused on the main thing
Post reminders in prominent places. Get downloadable computer wallpaper and printable posters at: Quote of the Week: What’s the main thing?
10. Ask your coach for help.
* This weekly feature has been discontinued but we have left the material up for managers who don’t have time or don’t want to make time to read lengthy articles or even short paragraphs. We call it a Quick List. AKA – 10 by 10 on Tuesday. 10 ( ideas or tips or questions or steps or ways to Get 2 Goal or Be a Better Manager, etc) by 10 (AM – EST) on Tuesdays. Click here if you’d like to see all Quick Lists created to date.
