I heard this quote today and thought how appropriate it was for many organizations on a day-to-day basis. It’s an indictment on how the day can be spent on things that don’t matter much in the big picture and quite often not even the little picture. Think about how much time you spend in a given day or week dealing with insignificant issues while missing the mark on matters that add to team performance, organizational profitability and innovation. Are any of the following people you???
OCD Joe – He works in the back office processing paperwork. The sales person sends her paperwork to Joe. It’s in compliance and up to standard for what the organization deems acceptable. However, OCD Joe prefers the paperwork be completed in black ink #2 instead of blue ink #1. Houston, we have a problem! Joe also likes the documents to be placed in a white 8×11 envelope. Don’t dare send it in a brown envelope. Sounds kind of idiotic but this is in essence what’s going on all the time in many organizations. Personal preferences and agendas taking priority over basic standards.
Lack of Sales Sally – She works in sales and seems to find every excuse imaginable to avoid getting outside the office or making outgoing phone calls to sell. It’s pretty sad when we have to organize outbound calling programs to get a sales person to do her job. Instead of focusing on the elephants, Sally is trying to decide what pretty background she can use on her email. She also keeps busy reading articles on how to sell during selling hours. Sometimes she’s just focused on organizing her suspects (people she hopes may become a prospect one day) in alphabetical order, based on geographic location.
Roadblock Rod – He’s the guy that actually makes lots of the ants. He’s the one that always plays devil’s advocate. Anything new that is suggested or discussed for implementation, he will give a dozen reasons why it can’t be done. He’ll create the roadblocks or change the so-called bar on everything. You can overcome every “what if” and objection and then he’ll move the bar to create more reasons “why not”. Bottom-line is… Rod doesn’t want any extra work. He likes the status quo and he will protect it all costs. He’d rather everyone stomp ants because catching an elephant means more work for him.
Micro Manager Mitch – If you work for this guy, we’re sorry and wish you the best… or maybe you are this guy. He’s the manager that’s more focused on having you make 20 calls today but if you make 19 and outproduce everyone on the team he still has a problem. He focuses on activity and not results. He’s more worried about managing every detail of your day instead of focusing on your productivity. He requires that you check-in with him before taking a restroom break. He tends to be the “squeaky wheel” manager putting out fires and making new rules and guidelines for the exception instead of focusing his efforts on giving the engaged employee what’s needed to produce at an even higher level.
Here’s the deal. Most of the ants get stomped when non-negotiables are not set. If you don’t have non-negotiables established when it comes to Attitude, Communication, Compliance and Standards then you’ll find yourself dealing with minor issues every day that shouldn’t be issues. The tail will certainly be wagging the dog. The rest of the ants get stomped when you haven’t set expectations and core scores for each employee and team.
Maybe you don’t sweat the small stuff but be sure you don’t spend your day focusing on pushing your personal preferences on others that have no bearing on productivity and profits. Stomping ants wastes time and money. Catching the elephants will make you the best and most profitable in your market.
