Saturday, June 14, 2014

On Productivity: What versus How defines Effectiveness versus Efficiency, Strategy versus Tactics and Leader versus Manager

What versus How defines Effectiveness versus Efficiency, Strategy versus Tactics, Leader versus Manager. They are not to be confused. The first is the "crawl", the second is the "walk" and without them both you will never "run". Following baby steps works for business as well as for nature.

What do you produce? Is it what the customers need or what you think they should need? Being effective means to do *what* is required, no more, no less. You have to Have a solid strategy to be effective. Being effective will ultimately make you a leader because you will influence and inspire.

How do you produce it? Are you focused on predictable delivery with high quality or on resource utilization? Being efficient means to focus on "how" to do the whole job on time and on budget. Being efficient means to create tactics that align completely with the strategy. Being efficient will ultimately make you a manager because you will be able to direct and control.

Mastering these concepts is crucial to be able to become the head of any personal or professional effort but arguably desired to be a member of an all stars team. Defining "what" to do (the goal, the mission, the end), is step number one. Determining "how" it will get done (the effort, the actions, the means) is the second step.

Productivity is the ratio between the production of "what" we do versus the cost associated to "how" we do it. It is a result of how effective and efficient we are. It is the ultimately head's and arguably, again, every team member performance review. You need no review performed by a supervisor to know where you stand as a contributor. Have a strategy and constantly monitor that your tactics align with it. Let us strive to *effectively lead what is agreed and efficiently manage how it is delivered*.

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