Are People Part of Your algorithm?

Colleagues,
 
We’ve been looking at our default thinking patterns, or algorithms, this week. Yesterday we discussed the four parts of a strategic leader’s mindset:

• Importance (over urgency)
• Problems (instead of symptoms)
• Incremental change (not history)
• People

 
It seems obvious to include people as a consideration when dealing with issues, but often times the people are an afterthought. So, why factor people into your algorithm?

1. You are more likely to include the right people in the process of dealing with the issue. Stakeholder input is essential, but often overlooked.
2. You are less likely to formulate a solution that depends on people doing something that they are unable or uncapable of doing. OR…
3. You factor in training and support to help people do something they can’t or won’t currently do.
4. You consider solutions that will actually lead to people’s growth (which may ultimately eliminate the problem)
5. You are more likely to identify people who can do what you were planning to do, thereby freeing up your time and helping to build leadership capacity in your organization.

 
When we are working on an urgent mindset, we are focused on satisfying the urgent need. With a strategic mindset, we focus on the underlying problem and how it is impacting people. 
 
Imagine there is an issue with too many meetings. An urgent mindset solution would be to create a policy that limits the lengths of meeting, allows them only on certain days, or to require people to take “Effective Zoom Meetings 101” before they can schedule a meeting.
 
A strategic mindset would recognize that people are scheduling these meetings, and that if there are more now than pre-pandemic, the meetings are filling some kind of need. By working with people to uncover the need, a strategic leader can help develop solutions that both meet the need and decrease the number of meetings. It’s not that an urgent mindset couldn’t also do this, but it is not the default thinking pattern.
 
Tomorrow, I’ll give you a handy list of questions to help you reprogram your algorithm.

Do good and be well,

​Frederick