Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / 3 Strands
Last Friday I encouraged you to take a weekend Sanctuary for personal accountability. Weekly accountability for yourself and your people is critical to success. Here is a brief introduction to our 3 Strands© process:
SYSTEMATIC LEADER NOTE: Goals without accountability are a recipe for failure.
A person's 3 Strands are the 1-3 most important milestones or tasks they must complete during the upcoming week to move closer to achieving their annual goals.
- Never define more than 3 Strands so you stay focused.
- List your 3 Strands in order of priority.
- Review them at the start and end of each day.
- Require your direct reports to submit their 3 Strands to you weekly by Monday at 9:00 a.m.
The inspiration behind calling this "3Strands" is from Ecclesiastes 4:12, which says:
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Individually each week's 3 Strands activities may not seem very important, but collectively they are a "20 Mile Challenge" towards achieving meaningful work each year. Over time your progress through these three weekly activities also:
- Protects your people from failure or ongoing mistakes;
- Systematically builds a fortress of success; and
- Strengthen your defenses against competitors and anyone who might question your productivity (stay focused).
The discipline of weekly achieving 3 Strands is a strong climbing "rope" (or cord) to reach your vision of success (whatever you have defined success to be).
