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How to Get The Right Things Done
We all want to do more. Accomplish more, play more, love more, earn more. But the real secret is how to get the right things done. This was the subject of my first book, Plugged. In the book I used golf as a backdrop because, well, I like playing golf. So, the takeaway acronym is to focus on PAR. Since then, I’ve used this simple yet powerful tool to help in my executive coaching, strategic planning and business consulting. And it works whether you’re in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kentucky or Jacksonville, Florida.
Shoot for PAR
In golf, par is the standard of excellence. The same holds true in business. Here’s what PAR stands for:
P = Prioritize—Focus on what matters most
A = Adapt—See change as an opportunity
R = be Responsible—Take ownership of the outcome
Business leaders who embrace these ideas will get more done. And, more importantly, they’ll get the right things done.
Prioritize
We each get exactly 168 hours per week, no more, no less. That’s why “focus on what matters most” is so critical. You can fill your day with valid but unimportant work. Or you can tackle the things that move the needle.
Prioritization takes discipline. Executives that get a lot done block out time. Then they dive into their difference makers. It could be your top challenge or your biggest opportunity. Maybe it’s eliminating your greatest liability. Whatever it is, identify it. Then resolve to make it your highest priority.
Adapt
Most business executives don’t instantly see change as an opportunity. That’s because it’s hard. We all have habits, favorites and preferences. We get in ruts.
But the world around us is always changing. We can deny or ignore a megatrend. Or we can embrace it and use it to our advantage.
Take the virus. When normal travel and office life ended, Zoom filled the gap. The most successful businesspeople chose to become masters of the new technology. And they learned how to adapt to this new landscape and get more done.
It’s the same with everything. The ability to quickly adapt to a changing world and competitive landscape is a mindset. And the hallmark of the most successful businesses and organizations.
be Responsible
People who get the right things done take ownership of the outcome. They don’t blame others when things fall short. And because they think and act like they own the outcome, things usually don’t fall short.
If there are weak links on the team, they either train them up or they move them out. Either way, it’s up to the leader—the one who is responsible to deliver—to get the job done. Come hell or high water.
Krissi Barr of Barr Corporate Success
The upcoming year will be a continuation of some challenges and the emergence of new ones. It will be up to you and your team to make things happen. If you use PAR, you’ll know how to get the right things done. And if you are interested in executive coaching, strategic planning or business consulting, please give me a call. I work with companies in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kentucky, Jacksonville, Florida and all over America.
