The two things I value most as a leader are productivity and character. Productivity means you get things done and advance the organization’s mission and vision. Character is what allows you do it for a long period of time and not disqualify yourself. In this article we will discuss the subject of productivity. You may be asking about loyalty. I think loyalty is embedded in character.
Great leaders never confuse potential with production. They place a premium on specific activities which impact the bottom-line. This is why we should take the time to learn from Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland and his historic start to this year’s Premier League season. Haaland has scored a record-breaking nine goals in his first five games. This includes hat-tricks in the team’s last two contests.
Recently, NBC Sports’s Tactics Session hosted by Robbie Earle and Robbie Musto, profiled the Norwegian scoring machine. A video of their segment is shown below. After watching their 5-minute analysis, I will provide 4 Practices of Highly-Productive People I gleaned from this footage:
Highly-Productive People Position Themselves To Be Productive
Highly-productive people make things happen. But to do this, you must be where the action is. Earle said of Haaland’s first goal, “Staying in the central area of the pitch where the action is going to happen… He’s in the middle of the pitch where you want you star.” Be in the right place at the right time.
Smart leaders understand that opportunity should not be distributed equally. For organizations to reach their full potential, they must strategically place their top people in the most advantageous situations possible. Manchester City does this by keeping Haaland in the central area of the field where he has the most potential to score goals. Your organization should do likewise.
Highly-Productive People Create Multiple Options For Success
The most successful people know there is never just one way to do something. They look for opportunities to create multiple options for success. Highly-productive people often have multiple streams of income, multiple closing techniques, a large and growing network, and detailed contingency plans.
Haaland shows in his second goal that he has given Manchester City a vast array of options when attacking the opposition’s defense. Highly-productive people give their organizations multiple ways to achieve success as well. A video showing the organizational benefits optionality provides is shown below:
The most talented people in your organization give you the most options and opportunities for success. See the clip below of the impact of @ManCity @ErlingHaaland https://t.co/2H6EFAAzuP
— Brian Dodd (@BrianKDodd) September 3, 2022
Highly-Productive People Remove The Clutter From It
They edit their lives. Did you notice what Earle said about Haaland’s positioning on the pitch? He noted, “He’s always walking away to clear the space… pull away from the defenders.” Likewise, highly-productive people clear space in the lives. They remove clutter and the things which limit productivity.
Highly-Productive People Master The Fundamentals
They do the basics at a very high level. Earle observed of Haaland’s final goal, “The clinical finish off the foot. Not a problem.” When you master the fundamentals, productivity is often not a problem. So make a BIG deal out of little things.
For more on mastering the fundamentals, click The One Thing Which Allows Leaders To Truly Make A Difference And Stand Out From All Others.
Position yourself for success. Create options. Remove clutter. Master the fundamentals. Do these four things and you have positioned yourself to be a highly-productive leader.
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