To be effective means, it works. As Stephen R. Covey said, “Who do they send back to school when the salesman doesn’t sell – the buyer?” Effective goals work. If you want effective goals, ensure they meet the following criteria. 1. Balance 2. Passionate 3. Clear & Simple 4. Realistic & Attainable 5. Fewer Done Better 6. Current Read more...
Olympic swimmer Chris Cook and his team were bogged down in strategic tweaks and minutiae - their purpose was unclear. Their focus was at their feet, on what could be improved today without knowing whether or not it would breed the desired results tomorrow. With 'two lengths of the pool' as their mantra, they became laser-focused on a simple mission. In the construction industry, what is our equivalent to the "two lengths," and what are we doing about it?
The construction industry is in a bad way. It's a battered old ship with an ocean of opportunity ahead, but it's barely keeping afloat. We, the industry's individuals, man the oars and heave each day desperately trying to cling to an acceptable pace, but we've slipped behind. We're exhausted, and despite our calloused hands, we're late to almost every port - to no surprise either. Tardiness has become our notoriety. Does it have to be so hard? I say it doesn't, and I have an idea...
I often read articles with titles such as "why is the construction industry inefficient" or "why are productivity levels so low?" These are great questions, but they're the wrong questions, and asking them has us looking in the wrong places for ways to improve. Rather than efficient, we must aim to be effective, even if it costs us efficiency. Here is why...
