Posts tagged Lookout
Seek What You Want to Find
Sep 21st
There is much truth in the idea that we tend to find what we are looking for. When we plant ideas in our mind about things we want in life, even subtly, the brain goes to work screening our intake and highlighting the things that we seek. In previous articles, I have referred to this as our reticular activating system; the mechanism that unconsciously brings to focus things that might have gone unnoticed had they not been “preprogrammed” by a desire to be on the lookout for such things. If that is the case, in varying situations, is it possible to choose what we find?
To illustrate this idea, try this experiment. Take a look at your surroundings; even better if they are somewhat unfamiliar. Ask yourself, “what do I see that is brown?” Take a minute to note everything that is brown. Next, close your eyes, and try to recall everything that is… green. Chances are, you’ll easily remember the brown, but will likely be unable to recall much green in the surroundings. You found what you were looking for but didn’t see anything else.
Our minds tend to work that way even when we aren’t doing experiments. What if we made a conscious choice to look for what we wanted to find? Would we find more of it? What if we really tried to concentrate on the things we’d like more of. Maybe more peace, maybe better relationships, maybe just more good in general.
As parents, we are often quick to find the flaws in our children (and each other). Sometimes the blunders and the teenage attitudes seem bigger than anything else. What if we decided to only look for the things they do right, the things that make them special, the pretty features, the cute way they walk or talk, their sense of humor, their talents? If we deliberately made it a point to look only for those things, would the negatives be less obvious?
Of course we have to guide; we have to discipline, and there are things we can’t ignore. As a public school teacher in Nashville, I am well aware of this side of the coin. However, when we pick our battles and consciously focus on what we want to find, we can pretty much choose our outlook and gain a little control over the “small stuff”.
Seek and ye shall find.
Adjustments Are Expected to Any Game Plan
Aug 21st
Successful leaders are always looking for the new doors that open in front of them or the shorter paths to their goals. Think about it. How often does a plan go perfectly from start to objective? So this is the question that successful leaders ask.
What adjustments can I make?
Leaders know that they are there to steer the ship, to guide the team to the objective. Steering the ship mean just that, to make constant adjustments guiding the ship in as straight a line as possible. You are expected to make continuous adjustments.
Here’s a real world example in my area of expertise as a construction superintendent. We have a tool we use for making small corrections and also to ensure that we proceed as per are overall construction schedule and that is the two or three week lookout schedule. This is a schedule we make every week which contains a lot more detail than the overall schedule that is hanging on the wall. From the overall schedule you know what tasks are on the critical path. These are the tasks that if they start later or last longer than scheduled, will delay the finish date on the job. There are several thing to look out for in the lookout schedule. One is the tasks on the critical path, you are always looking for a way to get those tasks started sooner and to get them finished in a shorter period of the. An important thing is how the work flows through the job.
Certain tasks have to be complete before the next trade starts. But on most jobs you want a flow starting in one corner or a certain floor or where ever and working through the job in a sequence of areas to the last area. This is how you get the workers following each other along the sequence of areas. This gets more manpower on site without them getting in each others way. The third thing I look at is what I call the number one question. That is – What has to be 100% complete for in a certain area in order for the next subtrade on the critical path to start their work? These are often small tasks my crew needs to do or involves chasing certain subcontractors to complete certain details of their work. Combine those with productivity issue such as access to the site and where to store materials so you don’t have to keep moving them and you can come up with your 2 week outlook schedule. This is the plan that contains all the small weekly adjustments to keep you on track with the overall construction schedule.
As you can see on a large job this is a complex process, whereas on a small job you may not even put it to paper but just verbally communicate it to those concerned. Really small tasks just require you to ask yourself periodically – What Adjustments Can I Make?
When the astronauts went to the moon they were off course over 90% of the time but though continuous small corrections they made their goal as planed within seconds.
The route to success is often a zig zag route. That route will be shorter if you correct and refocus on the objective more often. Restating goals often and knowing what step is next and getting feedback allows the team to make corrections often and in the right direction.
The smaller the correction you make the more successful and confident the team will be about the plan and the next steps. Instill that confidence.
The big secret – You can’t help but succeed if you continually make adjustments towards your goal.
Always ask.
What adjustments can I make?
“Daily ripples of excellence – over time – become a tsunami of success” Robin Sharma
