First Quarter Drift

Monday Message from Jerry Houston, President and CEO of HPISolutions

We attended an interesting webinar by the founder and creator of a new process we are now using with clients, The Prioritized Leader, Mr. Brandon Schaefer.  We are never disappointed when we attend one of Brandon’s teaching webinars, as he has a profound understanding of what is going on for leaders in this interesting world that we live in.

Here are some nuggets about a recent talk about FIRST QUARTER DRIFT.

I don’t know about you, but this quarter is just speeding past.  It is almost unnerving how quickly the first three months of 2022 have gone by.  Here are some observations:

LEADERS

• Leaders start to overwork and they get tired (this also applies to your team members)
• The market gets sluggish and leaders start to get into the weeds (can you say micromanaging?)… partially because task completion gives them good feelings of accomplishing something
• In the midst of this tactical activity, it’s easy for leaders to lose focus on the mission, vision, values (purpose) of the organization
• We all need to take a pause. Come up for a breath of fresh air.  The team and the leader need a break.  It doesn’t take much… bring in lunch for everyone, send everyone home an hour early, if the team is working from home, send something to each person that is personal to them
• Fun in the organization is minimal or non-existent, leaders can take time with their team and have some fun

WHAT THIS DOES TO CULTURE

• The leaders and the team are distracted and overwhelmed
• Micromanagement causes unreasonable pressure and decreases the feeling that the team is trusted. “I guess I better look busy, rather than being focused and productive.”
• It becomes easy to forget why we are doing what we do at this company, and drift away from the things that are most important
• Disengagement sets in. When you never come up for air, disengagement happens.  It is a number one factor in why people begin to leave the organization
• With no opportunity for fun in the organization, a lack of hope develops. The leaders and team can’t see the light.  Trudging along begins and there is a decrease in optimism about the future

WHAT CAN WE DO?

 As the leader, you need to take a step back.  You are now thinking, you have to be kidding, Jerry!  But if Not Now…WHEN?  It is time to reflect on what is going on.  Do we have our priorities in the right order?  Do we understand our Purpose, and have we communicated it?  Are we taking care of our most important asset…our People?  Are we going at a Pace that is so frantic, that the team is overwhelmed and little gets accomplished?  Is our Perception right and are we innovating and problem-solving at a level that promotes fresh ideas and solutions?  And what happens to Profits, which are the fuel to provide the resources the organization needs to accomplish its objectives?

Time to put the brakes on THE FIRST QUARTER DRIFT?   We can help.  Reach out today for a free consultation at info@hpisolutions.com

Have a Great Week!