Adopt a New Results Mindset at Work
The problem with most forms of planning—new business, project, marketing, financial, strategic or otherwise—is that the newly-minted plan often ends up as a complex web of to-do lists.
While this to-do-list-driven thinking may help distribute various activities to different team members, it does not necessitate the achievement of organizational goals.
As Peter Drucker explains, “Productivity for the knowledge worker means the ability to get the right things done. It means effectiveness. Knowledge work is defined by its results.” As is always the case with to-do lists: they drive towards actions, not results.
Results planning doesn’t require another internal document, but a mindset your organization can adopt. With this new mindset, you and your organization will:
- Stay perpetually connected to a larger, shared vision
- Evaluate complex problems with higher understanding
- Conduct shorter meetings (this is benefit enough!)
- Make smarter, quicker decisions
- Be more effective at operating as a collective whole, serving your customers, and growing your business
How do you adopt a Results-Planning mindset?
- Continuously ask the question: What is the result we are going to achieve? Cultivate a culture that values investing time envisioning the big picture instead of jumping into an endless series of to-do-list driven activities.
- Next, ask: What are the conditions that need to be set in order to realize our desired result? Now, brainstorm and strategically think through the issue while keeping the end result firmly in mind.
While these two questions might seem simple, consistent and effective execution is extremely difficult.
But here’s the good news: Any progress you and your organization make towards a Results-Planning mindset will measurably improve your business over time. (I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the positive effects with over a dozen enterprises I’ve worked with.)
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“While these two questions might seem simple, consistent and effective execution is extremely difficult.”
These two questions are so simple, they may not even seem that powerful or much different than any other question that a business coach would have one ask one’s self.
The old programming, filters, and habits of one’s mind can be quite deceiving.
If you want to reprogram your mind, and become more effective, I highly recommend what Scott is teaching above. I was introduced to these concepts in January 2008, and it took about a year to really start deprogramming my mind.
It’s like Scott’s teachings were seeds that had to germinate, start taking root, and sprout before I could start seeing the results of these simple, yet powerful questions.
It really is different from “goals” and “to-do” lists.
But don’t believe a word I say; try it for yourself.
Thank you, Scott, for being here and sharing your insights with the world.
Dr. Andrew Colyer