Best Leaders Break Roadblocks to Accelerate Performance

“It’s been crazy!”

Numerous leaders have shared this sentiment with me repeatedly over the last few weeks (or months, even.) They are working flat out: putting out fires; celebrating wins; navigating layoffs; supporting their people; rethinking objectives; embracing new approaches; and more.

It’s been the same for me.

So, when Monday arrived and I hit a creative block, I knew a change was needed.

Usually, I’d push through painfully to knock things off the to-do list (like writing this article). Instead, I hit the deck. Literally. I stepped outside, picked up a brush, and started re-staining our deck.

Tackling the many balusters on the railings required focus and precision. I embraced the repetitive nature of the task and let go of everything else. It was cathartic. A much-needed break; creative block destroyed. And this article? Quickly completed.

Savvy leaders take specific action to break roadblocks and accelerate performance. They know three things:

1) Snow days don’t require snow.  On Monday, I hit the deck – no snow in sight. Unplanned, relatively brief, and rarely arriving at a good time, a "snow day" creates opportunity, potential. And it can be just the remedy for a block (creative or real.) The executives I advise use this technique to refresh their teams, spark creativity, and inspire action.

Rather than killing momentum, declaring a “snow day” can accelerate progress.

2) Perfection is over-rated.  I’m neither a skilled nor neat painter – a tricky combo for this recovering perfectionist. Painting the deck, I mindfully noted progress: number of balusters completed, faster pace as I found a rhythm, and fewer touchups as I moved forward. Importantly, I was pleased with the result. Taken as a whole, the many imperfections simply didn’t matter. Good enough is truly great.

Vehicles stop at roadblocks. The quest for perfect stops progress. Instead, become perfectly imperfect.

3) Everyone benefits from skilled experts. No problem gets resolved on its own. Even in this topsy-turvy world, the executives I advise are accelerating performance. Instead of flying blind, they get the insights they need to take action. Likewise, I didn’t try to tackle our multi-tiered deck solo. I partnered with an expert who guided me to achieve the result I wanted.

Achieve objectives faster: partner with an expert. Get the details here.

Strategy is a journey that rarely goes as planned. Everyone faces a roadblock (or several) at some point along the way. When “it’s been crazy” becomes a common refrain, productivity often stalls.

Skilled CEOs routinely create space for recovery and inspiration. They guide leaders to focus on what matters most, to seek progress over perfection. They also tap skilled experts so that no one – not even the most experienced or senior staff – must go it alone.

What steps are you taking to dismantle roadblocks and keep strategy on track?

Contact me to get started. Let’s move the needle quickly and sustainably!