Clear the Deck!

In a recent blog post, a colleague of mine, Al Watts, talks about “clearing the deck.” It’s a great read about how we as leaders need to take time to step back, look at the bigger picture, get rid of the clutter in order to get a clearer vision of not only the present, but the future.

Al says: “Just as for naval commanders of old and present-day sailors, leaders and organizations that do not “clear the decks” from time to time will also likely be hampered by impaired vision, organizational clutter, restricted maneuverability and lack of focus. They will also likely miss out on innovations that new perspectives can bring and lose valuable talent.”  Spot on, Al.

We see this all the time in working with companies, particularly on developing or refining their go-to-market strategy. One of the things we do well is help clients “declutter” so they have a much clearer focus on which markets they should be concentrating their efforts for the greatest effectiveness and profitability. Many times, they cannot see the forest for the trees and that results in being ineffective and inefficient.

Al Watts is the author of “Navigating Integrity – Transforming Business As Usual Into Business At Its Best,” a great read to pick up.