Can you create a company (or department) to fulfill your
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I take part in a forum, a sort of Master Mind group of business people in several countries. In a recent teleconference, a well-known business consultant said, "Small businesses fall apart when it comes to strategy."
This led to a discussion of the difference between strategy and tactics.
I then offered my views on the difference -- and how that difference is implemented in my company. Some people said that strategy and tactics are the same. Others said, "It's all semantics -- and who cares anyway!"
Well, semantics is the relationship between words (or symbols) and their intended meanings. In my company, "tactics" and "strategy" have different but specific meanings.
Anyway, concurrent with all that, I was reviewing and updating my own purpose and goals. I noticed that during my brainstorming, I was not concerned with either strategy or tactics. I was simply brainstorming my purpose. From my Purpose, I created Goals. That was about it.
But sooner or later, I know that I must create some plans (strategies) to achieve my Purpose and Goals.
And I must take some steps (tactics) to make my strategies happen. So, I drew a diagram showing concentric circles, labeled Purpose, Goals, Strategies, and Tactics. See Diagram at: http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/Images/bullseye.gif
OK. Suppose I wanted to organize a company to fulfill that Purpose and those Goals? Here's an example of how I would arrange the company's Org Chart from the top down. (Not all possible boxes are shown.) See Diagram at: http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/Images/purpose-chart.gif
N0w, here's where the fun begins because there is a phenomenon called inheritance (in my organization), where each subordinate inherits one of their manager's Tactical Objectives as his or her Strategic Objective.
In a moment, I will give you a link so you can study how we do that. Meanwhile...
============================================================ Focus on your Contribution and accelerate achievement of your Purpose. ============================================================
Let me return to the statement, "Small businesses fall apart when it comes to strategy." I would not limit this phenomenon to small businesses. I have seen huge companies where employees don't know the company's purpose, goals, or strategies.
I suppose one could say that employees need only do their jobs. Besides, most people (me included) tend to focus downward and get caught up with struggle and effort (tactics).
However, when we l'ose sight of our purpose, goals, or strategies, we render ourselves at least partially ineffective in achieving them. Still, we must make sure that tactics are executed.
What would happen if everyone asked, "How can I contribute to the larg'er Purpose?"
We would turn our attention away from our own specialties, skills, and tactics - and advance perfor'mance of the whole organization.
Awareness of our contribution turns our attention to the Purpose, where results really count.
So, to be the most effective we should focus on outward contributions while performing nitty-gritty tactics. Effective people get the right things done for the right Purpose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What did you learn today that you found most beneficial? How will you apply what you have learned at work? Any other comments are welcome:
OK, here's the link I promised a minute ago: http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/pvt-3-organized-contd.htm l
Until next week...
Best Regards,
Mike Hayden, Principal/Consultant Your partner in streamlining business.
PS. If you're not on our P V T Roster, sign up (fr#e) at: http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com
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(c) 2005 Mike Hayden, All rights reserved. You may use material from the Profitable Venture Tactics eZine in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including live website links and email link.
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About the author: Mike Hayden is Founder/CEO of Senior Management Services and the Documentation Express in Silicon Valley, California. Mr Hayden is the author of "7 Easy Steps to your Raise and Promotion in 30-60 Days! The book that smart bosses want their employees to read." ISBN 0-9723725-1-2. More articles at http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/pvt-information.html
