I have spent several months training for a half marathon. Along the way I focused on pampering my feet. They seemed to be the weak link in my body. It created a good excuse for pedicures, expensive foot crèmes, etc.
Last weekend I ran 11 miles. My feet were no problem but I struggled with back pain for the first time. Throughout the entire run I was reminded that we are only as strong as our weakest link.
What are the weak links in different aspects of your life? Here are some of mine:
1) Faith – My spiritual gifts are leadership, administration and faith. Unfortunately the strong leader in me can attempt to take control away from God. Surrender is my struggle.
2) Family – Patiently listening requires effort on my part. My mind has a tendency to operate like popcorn in a microwave. Slowing down and being present when I am with my family can be challenging.
3) Finances – Eating out was a luxury when I was young. I really appreciate a nice restaurant. I must discipline myself to be rational with the amount of money I spend on food.
4) Fitness – I am blessed to not struggle with tremendous desires to eat unhealthy stuff. I don't always get enthusiastic about exercise.
5) Professional – Staying current and proficient with technology is not something I enjoy. I love having the latest gadgets but can become quite insecure when I have to learn new technology.
I am naturally inquisitive and enjoy problem solving. As individuals and team members we are only as strong as the weakest link. How do we create a habit of thinking about every aspect of our lives and determining where improvements could be made?
Let's look at the example of weaknesses in a business operation. Is the weakest link of your operation today the same weak link you had six months ago? What are you doing to see that this weakness is less of an issue next year?
Here are the stages I go through to analyze my business and those I consult:
1) Identify weaknesses –Ask customers, employees at all levels and outside experts what could be done to improve your business model. The weakness may be caused by a process that is absent or needs to be tweaked. It could be a person in the operation that needs education, etc. See gut check form (Laura's checklist) that I utilize at http://www.lauraharris.com/Forms/Index.asp
2) Study your critical variables - Often critical measurements will identify patterns of weakness. You can see the critical variable template we use to measure progress at http://www.lauraharris.com/Forms/Index.asp.
3) Prioritize changes and set timelines (create action plan).
4) Communicate vision and strategy of throughout the organization.
5) Empower team to make changes one at a time (not like a tornado).
6) Seek expertise, if needed.
7) Have weekly team meetings to review progress (including critical variables). Continue to communicate strategy and sense of urgency.
8) Celebrate short-term milestones.
As you can imagine, I spent time this week doing exercises for my back. As I run tomorrow I will be very conscious of any area of my performance that shows weakness.
Laura's book Surrender to Win - Regain Sanity by Strategically Relinquishing Control can be ordered through her website www.LauraHarris.com. She is also a contributing author of Chicken Soup for the Soul - Tough Times, Tough People. Questions or comments can be directed to Laura at Laura@LauraHarris.com.