I may not add much value by doing operational stuff and taking pride in it.
Similarly, I can be very productive but ineffective, as I may be undertaking low-value work.
Further, I can be very effective in dealing with situations. However, it may not count much as I am merely firefighting existing process issues.
Within business, we value hard work, high productivity, and effectiveness. But what matters is where our energy is being spent. Is it on firefighting operational issues and admin, or undertaking strategic work?
Firefighting operational issues are like saving existing trees. Strategic work is like planting seeds. For any transformation, we must be able to shift the leadership team’s focus from operational to strategic. It is one of the foundational elements of any transformation.
