NEXT LEVEL
7 Strategies
By Jim Canfield
To Take Your Business To The Next Level
ULTIMATELY , EVERY CEO or manager has to ask themselves , “ What do I need to get to the next level ?” The answer to that question could be the topic of a day-long working session . Luckily , there are steps you can take that will provide a jumpstart to those answers — today . Do so , and you ’ ll ensure you ’ re armed with the knowledge and team you need to move forward .
1 . Set Clearly Defined Direction
To create a valuable action plan for your organization , it ’ s integral you establish clear , meaningful goals and milestones . This means defining what the next level looks like and then determining the strategies , tactics and goals that will get your business there . Call upon employees to define the next level for your organization in their eyes . Then use their perspectives as a litmus test to analyze the degree to which your current direction is clearly defined . As part of that process , it ’ s important you ’ re able to answer the following :
• Do your employees know where your organization is headed ?
• Do they understand what actions they need to take to move in that direction ?
• Do they know what results are most meaningful ?
• Do they know if you are on track to achieving those results ?
2 . Communicate Everything
Communication is not just telling ; it ’ s creating a dialogue that makes achieving results matter . Communication of information , feedback and support in a regular and reliable cadence creates trust . And trust is essential to accomplishing high-performance , superior results . As a business leader , the need for communication is even more important . Ask yourself the following questions to assess your communication process and understand where any gaps exist :
• What communication tools do you use to create and reinforce trust ?
• What is your regular cadence of communication ?
• How do your employees interpret your communications ? What is missing that forces them to “ fill-in-the-blanks ”?
3 . Mind The Numbers
Once you ’ ve determined your next-level goals , it ’ s time to take action . Start by tracking meaningful data : Down the line , you can use this information to provide critical feedback , equipping you and your team to make necessary adjustments to your action plan . Need an example to illustrate the importance of data tracking ? Imagine playing a competitive sport with no access to statistics or scores . Beyond the fact that there would be no way for you to know if you were winning or losing , there would also be no opportunity for you to make the changes needed to improve your results .
Before you can begin tracking data , you need to determine which methodology would best serve your needs . Create an action plan by asking the following questions :
• What are you currently tracking ?
• Are you focused on the right result drivers ?
• How do you ensure that you ’ re tracking meaningful information ( and not just numbers )?
• What are your tools for measurement and feedback ?
4 . Anticipate The Future
When trying to derive actionable insights from your data , you must evaluate both your past and current results . To truly get to the next level , you must anticipate the future in order to realize it and make it happen . George Steiner , the grandfather of strategic planning , puts it this way : “ The essence of formal strategic planning is the systematic identification of opportunities and threats that lie in the future , which in combination with other relevant data provide a basis for a company ’ s making better current decisions to exploit the opportunities and to avoid the threats .”
Determine whether you are incorporating the future into your business equation , by answering the following :
• How well are you doing each of the three Steiner actions , and which tools are you using ?
• How reliably can you project your future results ?
• What tools do you use to get the feedback needed to assure your future activities will deliver the desired results ?
5 . Identify Top-Performing Players
Processes are critical , but it takes the right players to make your team truly successful . As a leader , it ’ s crucial you know how to place ( and coach ) your top-performing team members strategically . Jerry Goldress , the turnaround superstar , talks about getting results by “ putting your best players in the game-changer positions .”
To form a winning team of your own , keep the following questions in mind :
• What are your game-changer positions ?
• How do you ensure you get ‘ A-players ’ in those positions ?
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