Leaders succeed when they know how to set clear Goals, describing the Vital Results they desire. In some cases Vital Results could be as narrowly focused on a single thing that drives the business’s economic engine. For most businesses 5 Vital Results is enough.  In no cases are more than 7 Vital Results required. Focus is essential for 2 reasons: (1) to reflect the way the 80/20 Rule applies and (2) to keep it simple.

Leaders succeed when they establish ways to Measure performance of the right things at the right times…like the Vital Signs used in the medical profession to ensure the most-important things are covered.

In business, Vital Signs cover timely measurement of Vital Behaviours, the most-important Actions that bring about achievement of Goals. Like Goals, the number of Vital Behaviours must be minimized. Very few Actions are Vital to the achievement of a Goal. Leaders must hone their focus on the few Actions that determine whether or not a Goal will be achieved. Ideally, the focus can be reduced to one Vital Action for each Goal.

With desired Results and desired Actions clarified, the leader must influence behaviour. The key is leadership influence that sets the framework so people are intrinsically rewarded when they do the desired Actions…so they enjoy doing the Actions. Then people will be self-motivated and both Vital Actions and Vital Results will be maximized.

Thought Tweet #781.5 Introduce Interests, Express Expectations...do not leave these vital communications to chance.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

If you introduce your Interests people have a chance to understand what you want. Maybe they share your Interests. Maybe their Interests align with yours. Maybe they do not. If you introduce your Interests you, at least, have a fighting chance to know. 

If you express your Expectations people have a chance to understand what you want from them. Maybe they share your Expectations. Maybe their Expectations align with yours. Maybe they do not. If you express your Expectations you, at least, have a fighting chance to know.

And at least of equal importance, other people have a chance to know. If you want to accomplish things with the help of other people, you must agree you owe them that. 

Interests and Expectations: around the essence of communication. Just add story and repetition. 

Thought Tweet #781 People eat sour fruit sparingly. Yet they complain about it much.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Sometimes sour fruit is the best thing to consume. The British found that out several centuries ago and the practice of eating limes was encouraged by Scottish Dr. James Lind. He helped the British Navy understand limes and lime juice prevented sailors from the pain and suffering of scurvy. This fact was known prior to the arrival of Dr. Lind. And, the benefit of limes was well understood when he documented proof. Yet, the practice of eating limes to prevent scurvy was not adopted by the British Navy until some time later.

The first sailors who ate limes were ridiculed. By fellow sailors and pirates alike.

To this day the legacy of ridicule lives on in the form of a derogatory/racist ancestor of the word lime.

To this day, people resist when others try to force them to eat sour fruit.

So, take care when you try to unload sour fruit on your people.

Care taken while introducing sour fruit is inversely proportional to the amount of complaining that introduction generates. The greater the care, the lesser the complaints.