How to stay productive during the slow season is the subject of Dick Detmer's Eye on Rental column in this issue (see page 66). It's full of great suggestions for how to make the most of the downtime, but it got me thinking about the opposite problem. What do we do when we're overwhelmed? How can we stay productive, and make sure our employees stay focused, where there's too much going on?
In his article, "How to Prioritize Your Company's Projects" in the Harvard Business Review, Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez suggests that it starts with knowing your reason for being, everything else should flow from there. Following is a simple framework he calls the “Hierarchy of Purpose":
- Purpose. What is the purpose of the organization and how is that purpose best pursued? All rental companies have the same general purpose, but each is special in its approach. Consider what your company's unique "reason for being" is and how it relates to any long-term goals you have for your business.
- Priorities. Given the stated purpose and vision, what matters most to the organization now and in the future? In other words, what actions are going to best support your purpose and goals?
- Projects. Based on the answers to the first two points, which projects are the most strategic and should be resourced to the hilt? Which should be scrapped? This step is very enlightening, as it forces you to look at where you're wasting time and where you're not devoting enough of your energy.
- People. Now that there is clarity around the strategic priorities and the projects that matter most, who are the best people to execute on those projects? When you know exactly what needs to be done, it's easier to see whose talents will be most useful in which capacity.
- Performance. What are the precise outcome-related targets that will measure real performance? Before you begin any project, come up with some ways to quantify success. This will make it easier to set goals and bestow rewards.
It's not that there isn't enough time, it's that most of us are wasting time and energy in places where it's not serving our highest ideals. Why not spend a bit of time during the upcoming slow season to consider what your purpose really is and how to align your priorities and projects with it?
