Delivering the task - slow down to speed up!

“Just get it done.”

We’ve all heard that. And if you’re anything like me, particularly earlier in my career, you probably took that quite literally.

Head down, crack on and deliver the task.

The problem is, that approach works right up until it doesn’t.

Over time (and with a fair bit of learning through experience), I realised that most issues in delivery don’t come from poor effort, they come from poor thinking at the start. My military training definitely shaped how I approach this. One of the key lessons was simple:

Slow down at the start, so you can move faster later.

A simple way to think it through. Before jumping into action, I tend to run through a few key areas. Nothing complicated, just some structured thinking that helps avoid unnecessary problems later on.

Clarity

What exactly have I been asked to do and why does it matter?

What does “done” actually look like?

Resources

What do I have to work with (people, time, budget)?

Is it enough or do I need to push back and ask for more?

Options

What are the different ways I could approach this?

What might get in the way?

What are the strengths weaknesses, opportunities and threats with each option?

Execution

What’s the plan?

What are the risks and how will I manage them?

How will I communicate it and track/measure progress?

It’s not a rigid process but more of a mental checklist. Skipping it is where things tend to unravel.

Where leaders often go wrong

One of the traps I see (and have fallen into myself) is becoming overly task-focused.

Driving hard to deliver, pushing for results and getting things done (especially if you have a red personality type!).

All good things to a point.

But if that focus comes at the expense of the team or the individuals within it, it’s usually not sustainable.

You might get the result this time but at a cost.

Burnout, frustration and disengagement are likely to catch up with you.

It’s about balance

Delivering the task matters.

But it’s only one part of the leadership picture.

The real challenge is doing it in a way that also supports your team and develops the people within it.

That’s where the balance comes in and where leadership becomes more than just getting things done.

If you’re reflecting on your own approach, a simple place to start:

Do you spend enough time thinking before you act or are you straight into execution?