As the owner you have to decide if your feedback to your team is a personal preference (a mere suggestion) or an actual priority that you want them to focus on.
Let me explain…
Last week I held my inaugural event for my clients. It was an exclusive “retreat” for my peer group members to mingle, enjoy a unique experience, and learn out-of-the-box ideas that aren’t being shared in the general landscape industry. (See bottom for some fun photos)
Out-of-the-box example: One of my landscape clients spoke about how they have hired 18 remote workers (off shore) to run their front and back office, for a surprisingly low cost. This allows their onsite employees to focus on higher value work.
A second example came from our keynoter, Mike Haynes. He is founder of The Loving Companies. He shared behind-the-scenes secrets how he has scaled to 100M in such a short time.
One of his secrets that caught my attention was “preference over priority”.
As a leader you have to decide if your feedback to your team is a personal preference (a mere suggestion) or an actual priority that you want them to focus on. Click To Tweet
Not All Your Ideas Are Equally Important
As entrepreneurs we all have many ideas on how to fulfill our vision and grow the business. But our ideas can be overwhelming.
When you try to implement every detail of your vision, that bogs down the growth process of your team and disempowers the leaders you have hired.
Mike Haynes advocates that you must decide what you truly want to be a priority, versus what is simply a preference.When you try to implement every detail of your vision, that bogs down the growth process of your team and disempowers the leaders you have hired. Click To Tweet
Immediate Application: In Your Strategic Planning
The day after this client retreat, Ivan Katz (Great Lakes Landscape Design, MI) brought his leadership team (GM, Controller, Key Leaders) to my home office (set up for strategic planning) and we laid out the company’s vision for the next three years.
As Ivan would mention an idea, I would ask him, is that a preference or a priority?
We both smiled.
Only 1 out of 5 items was an actual priority for him, and the rest were suggestions that his GM and leadership team could decide for themselves (if and) how to implement.
It was freeing for Ivan and his team.
Your Challenge: Speed Up The Decision Making Process In Your Business.
Speed up the growth by getting out of the way.
- Remove yourself from 4 out of 5 final decisions being discussed at your leadership level
- Develop a second in command, so you can focus on your role as owner and investor in your business.
Don’t be stopped by size, it’s never too early to develop “seconds” in command.
Regards, Jeffrey Scott
P.S. You can save $200 by signing up before Jan 31 for my Develop Your Second In Command learning event. It will allow you to free up your time as owner, and scale your business even faster and more smoothly.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band private concert. Preference and priority.
Drinks behind preservation hall (that building is from 1750s)
Mike Haynes and Jeffrey Scott taking questions and sharing ideas.
Announcing Loriena Harrington as our new peer group facilitator.
