Have you ever stopped to reflect on the “good ole’ days” where:

• The only thing you could do in your car was listen to the radio, mentally plan, converse with a passenger, or take in the scenery?
• Returning to the office often meant a pile of pink message slips awaiting your response and more telephone “tag”?
• An “immediate” response might require communication via fax?
• Inter-company communication relied on courier schedules?

I know I am dating myself but many of you remember those times, or have heard about them.

Today, almost anything can be done “immediately” with proper technology, clear communication, and a mutual focus on the goal. However, we are also living in a world that now creates a work environment, and, at times, a home environment that leaves little time for setting appropriate priorities. We are constantly available (or expected to be available) and information is created (or expected to be created) and sent in a moment’s notice around the world. Now the question we ask is… what do we do first?!?

An article in the Harvard Business Review indicated that the majority of executives report having too many “conflicting” priorities and wrestle with the extreme challenge of allocating resources as they chase the ever-elusive GROWTH. Yes, with growth as the driver and endless priorities constantly clamoring for attention, what do we do next?

• Work with your team to focus on identifying a few key priorities
• Agree upon those priorities and set reasonable goals to monitor and measure performance
• Put the right people in the right position to maximize their strengths
• Continue to use technology to communicate, measure, listen, and communicate some more
• Stop chasing growth with a never ending bag of initiatives that steal the limited resources of the company and end up causing confusion and distraction for the team

The same Harvard Business Review article also noted that executives who focused on a set of 1-3 priorities achieved above-average revenue growth by aligning investment, effort and attention.

Go ahead, ask your team, “What are we chasing?” Then, harness their talent towards a more focused set of limited priorities… and above-average revenue growth.

So, owner, executive, manager, family member… “What are you chasing?”