“Busy-ness” has no place in your organization. The concept of expending energy on tasks that deliver no result is contrary to the productivity that leads to success. I often see people who hurry about, seemingly busy. In most cases, the people who appear the busiest are actually the least productive. They are not overworked, just disorganized.
Don’t confuse activity with action. Action is a results-oriented motion. “If I do this, then that results.” Activity is bluster. Activity is movement with no particular direction. Wandering through a mall is activity. Brisk walking for your health is action.
Take a look at the motions that commonly require your effort. Do they guide you closer toward achieving your sales goal? Is it a lead generator? Do you have someone on your team who seems to spend a lot of time calling prospects but never delivers results? That’s activity, and it needs to be addressed, because such extensive effort should lead to a positive outcome. A sales professional who is busily making phone calls that lead nowhere is a hamster on the wheel – and you’re paying the price of that activity, in lost sales and wasted time.
Take the time to analyze the cost of the efforts across your organization. There may be tasks that could be done more efficiently, delegated elsewhere, or simply eliminated. Imagine if you could create an extra hour a day by converting activity into guided action. What would your outcome be? If you spent one hour a week training others to be more productive, the benefit of that action would resonate across your group.
I recently saw a sign that said, “If you fall into a rut, don’t furnish it.” Following the status quo by letting fruitless activity continue is most certainly turning that rut into a comfy place to be.
Don’t do it.
Aim for purposeful action and you’ll see positive results.
