Many years ago, one of my co-workers, Craig Brooksby (one of my favorite people to this day), brought in a small jar for each person of the team, filled with large rocks. Each rock represented a task or priority. The lesson...in order to fill up the jar as quickly as possible, fill it with big rocks; in order to have the most impact on the business, keep your focus on the most important things.
Sage advice, right? It's standard business theory. I kept that jar on my desk for many years as a reminder to keep my eye on the big issues.
I've been developing a more nuanced view on this subject.
Nuances and Mutations lead to transformation
There was a youth basketball team that had been doing well, reached the championship game in 4 tournaments during the season, but hadn't gotten over the hump to win one. As this team never played together as a group until that season, this was quite an accomplishment. We had developed similar skills and capabilities as other teams, but there was something missing.
Then, we started working during the middle of the season on developing processes, mentalities and skills that would allow the team to perform better against better teams, persevere in stressful moments and come closer to our individual and collective potential. These components wouldn't be considered big rocks like working on shooting, passing, dribbling and defense. We needed to find the nuances and mutations within ourselves and our environment to bring ourselves to a new level of capability.
Success requires more than the big rocks
Any organization, team or individual worth their salt generally has a jar filled with big rocks. The two questions that may superficially separate those organizations is whether the big rocks they have are the right rocks and whether the those priorities connect with mission and vision.
However, I believe what truly sets organizations apart in this area is how effectively and efficiently they are seeing the opportunities and filling the gaps in between the big rocks. Another component is how they practice Love, Respect, Service and Fun around those big rocks. How each of those big rocks get executed makes a big difference.
These Four Fundamental Forces of Leadership, practiced effectively, weave around big rocks, small rocks and even the pebbles of sand that get filled into the jar. These forces make each interaction more effective and impactful. Programs and strategies soar. The organization succeeds!
An example of working to not need small rocks by using the Forces
Stone buildings would crumble without mortar. Mortar connects large stones and envelops smaller stones in a wall. Where that doesn't happen is with the wall created by the Incas in Peru in the banner photo I took in 1997. These walls, created 500 years ago, use no mortar. The Incas knew they needed to construct buildings to withstand strong earthquakes in the area. Even after these 500 years, a piece of paper cannot be worked in the gap between stones. In fact, the Spanish buildings erected on top of Inca foundations have many cracks and gaps while the foundations remain rock solid.
The Incas employed The Four Fundamental Forces of Leadership, in various parts - with their intellect, detailed quarry techniques (they didn't have machines to cut stone or move these boulders into place), understanding of geometry and dispersing force and sheer physical force - to get the stones in place.
The Incas knew, in order for their walls to stand the test of time in their environment, they needed to 'fill the gaps' in a way that left no gaps.
So, when you are leading teams or an organization, don't just focus on the big initiatives. Many times, those initiatives fail because they aren't wrapped by Love, Respect, Service and Fun to allow them to succeed.