The 3:2:1 Rule

Looking for better results? Most people are. Here's a frustrating fact: Consistently successful organizations don't focus most on the outcome - but they still get better results than the rest. Here's why...and how...

Performance is a result of skilled effort - which is a result of passion and commitment. World-class companies get better results because they track backwards to the internal root cause and focus on improving there instead - guiding the process until they achieve the superior external results they desire.

If you want a 1% increase in performance, then you need a 2% increase in effort (the kind your customer values) - which is sparked by a 3% increase in commitment (by your front line team - who delivers the effort.)

Some call it the "3:2:1 Rule". Yes, some of the investment gets lost in the shuffle (that's human nature for you), but done well it's worth it. Remember, the percentages of internal results don't have to cost a lot of money - just well-placed leadership, engaged relationships, and targeted innovation.

You can use this proven approach to set up your own improvement plan. For example: If you want a 2% increase in your financial results, you begin by investing in improving your team's engagement/commitment level by 6% (interact with them, listen to them, challenge them, develop them, etc.), which will affect a 3% increase of performance on their behalf (the power of pride, integrity and ownership!) - gaining you the 2% bottom-line results (from satisfied/loyal advocates) you hope for.

So, if you're interested in achieving consistent external results (like those proven world-class companies), focus on the internal resources that get you there first. ANY small steps towards engaging your team will become a catalyst for improvement in your outcomes.

The 3:2:1 Rule. As simple as 1, 2, 3!

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

How Many Days Have You Lived?

I was working with a client organization the other day and saw a sign in the machine shop. It was one of those typical signs that state how many days the team had gone without an accident. During my conversation with the shop manager, we discussed the previous day's leadership workshop on aligning Values, Talent, and Vision and how it related to the common safety sign.

People keep track of things that are important. Things like safety. Why then, do we not measure other things that are just as/more important?

For example, the client's safety sign read "123 days without an accident". Why don't we have a sign in our homes that read "18,250 days that I haven't died?" Unfortunately (or fortunately), we can't have a sign with the number of days we have left in life. I'd bet that would be a sign everyone would pay attention to.

Maybe I was wondering about this because I had just gotten news of the unexpected death of a friend's husband. We don't often think of how many days we've been alive - or that those days are numbered...somewhere. Maybe we should. How would that change our results in life?

Imagine instead if we had a sign that measured how many days we really lived! This was the discussion I had with the manager. "What if people were focused on what was truly important to them (Values), and what they were best at doing (Talent) that propelled them forward towards a goal that was compelling and desirable for them (Vision)"? As their leader, his job is to help them make that happen.

That is ALL of our jobs: To identify those things and take action to see that we stay on course. Every day.

Wouldn't it feel GREAT to add a new number each day to your sign "How Many Days I've Really Lived = X"??

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Measuring Time = Measuring Life

It is a common tradition to take stock of our lives every New Years. Seems natural - the beginning of a new year and all. But assessing our life just once a year also seems way too long between reviews. Not nearly enough feedback in between checks.

So I started doing a mid-year check-in with myself as well (about this time of year.) That's when everything started to change for the better. Started seeing some improvements over the once-a-year reviews. So I started once a quarter. Then once a month. Then once a week.

Now I conduct once a day assessments of where I am and how am I moving forward RE: my big life goals/bucket list.

Don't get me wrong - I'm NOT a number-crunching, "sadistics" kinda guy. Still not. Quite the opposite. Plus, it always weirded me out when people focused so much on measuring things in their life. Many people get so focused on the measuring process, they take their attention away from the real life-living part. What a shame.

But I came to realize that measuring something doesn't make it less "natural" - as long as the reason for measuring it stays the primary focus. The point is that, once I identify a goal (or goals) that are aligned with my values, talents, and passion (my purpose), then the more I stay aligned with that path, the more fulfilled I will be as ME.

It's really all about making more (often) informed choices. When is that ever a bad thing? Plus, seeing changes in the direction of your goal - even small improvements - is encouraging, and motivates me to stay the course/make even more improvements.

Not a bad tactic, actually.

It takes some getting used to, but it can actually make a transformative difference in the amount of LIFE you have in your life.

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!