Ruthless consistency is in the details. Very small things, done right many times, can have a massive effect.

They discovered this at a GE plant where the phosphorous coating is applied to fluorescent light bulbs. After the coating is applied the suspended light bulbs are moved through a drying system. And because phosphorous is expensive, a trough system catches the drops of phosphorous that fall throughout the drying process.

But it turned out that at this plant the trough system wasn’t quite long enough to catch the very last drop of falling phosphorous. One drop. No big deal, right?

Think again. By extending the trough system to catch that last drop, the plant saved … can you guess? … over $150,000 per year. This is what I call the multiplier effect. Very small things, multiplied over a large number of instances, can have a huge impact. 

Where does that multiplier effect come into play in your business? Where can you and your people find that one drop?

Your thoughts?

Michael 

Do you have what it takes to successfully create a fast-growing organization?

Take out a pen and draw three horizontal scales from 1 to 7. Resisting the temptation to go easy on yourself, rate yourself on the following questions (1=low, 7=high):

1) How well do I truly learn from mistakes by changing my beliefs, decision-making and actions?

2) To what extent do I surround myself with – not “good”, not “very good” – great people?

3) How persistent am I in strategizing, taking action and making adjustments to achieve results?

These are the three attributes common to CEOs on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies. If your total score is less than 18, then hold a meeting in the mirror and ask, “How do I need to change to help my organization grow?”

Your thoughts?

Michael

Here’s a formula for you. It’s the motto of D.O.A., a hardcore/punk band: Talk – Action = 0. If you talk about something but don’t take action then it means nothing.

Like the strategic planning charade. All strategy but no execution equals zero results. (It’s actually worse as you’ve squandered time, money and effort.)

This is the touchstone for evaluating every strategy, every project and every initiative: What did I do versus what I said I was going to do? Hold yourself to this exacting standard and you will find that, like all of us, you commit too much in too little time. Your ambitions overtake reality.

Commit to less but do more. Under-promise and over-deliver. It enhances your credibility. D.O.A. has figured this out. Will you?

Your thoughts?

Michael

They might listen to what you say but they hear what you do. Make no mistake, you are constantly on stage. Your people are watching and judging everything you do. Everything you don’t do. Everything. So how consistent are you?

If you expect your people to change, then role-model that change. If conditions force your organization to sacrifice, then be seen as the first to sacrifice. If you want to bring attention to a cultural norm, then be an exemplar of that norm.

If you’re not consistent, you can’t be credible. But you have to be credible for your people to follow you. And as I once read, if you think you’re a leader yet no one is following you, then you’re just going for a walk.

Your thoughts?

Michael