Why You Won’t Read This

I understand, you're busy. Really busy. There are many great reasons why you don't have time to read this:

[if !supportLists]• [endif]The Financial Services Royal Commission is underway, and today saw the initial public hearing since its establishment last December;

[if !supportLists]• [endif]you have a report due to the Board today;

[if !supportLists]• [endif]you are preparing for a risk management/risk culture review; or

[if !supportLists]• [endif]you've simply opened your email after the weekend and another project with a seemingly impossible deadline has come through.

But let me ask you this. If you are solely focused on what you believe to be the most important thing today - what about the other crunch times that are underway? The Royal Commission doesn't put a hold on your financial results being due. Nor does being under audit or review mean that you can hit the pause button on everything else.

Gone are the days when you had the luxury to focus on one big issue at a time.

Why?

Let me ask you this: what are your team doing when you spend all your meetings focused on the Royal Commission and not on year-end? What does that mean for engagement, energy, effectiveness? What does that mean for risk and accuracy?

In my view, there are job titles, and there are roles. In an organisation, a finite number of job titles exist. However, to get through crunch times, and to allow you to be momentarily absent, there are 4 types of roles that you need to successfully plan, execute, deliver and measure a quality outcome - every time.

Preparers: These are the people that prepare the documents and logistics that support the final deliverable. They also prepare the deliverable itself.

Reviewers: As well as reviewing, reviewers provide guidance and direction to the preparers with regards to the above-mentioned documents. Reviewers include the ultimate reviewer and decision maker - e.g. the Board of Directors.

Coaches: Coaches ensure the team stays focused, clear and aligned to the requirements of the crunch time. In short, they ensure that the team are 'fit and strong' to bear the brunt of the crunch time. Like sport, if your team aren't fit enough - they'll drop the ball.

Agents: Agents do the talking. They talk to and manage the stakeholders relevant to the crunch time. They also ensure the right tempo is maintained during all stages of a crunch time.

As a leader, you will assume the roles of at least reviewer and agent. But in your absence, who is providing guidance to the preparers so that they know what to do? Who is talking to your Board, and more importantly, ensuring that they are getting the right message? Who is making sure that tomorrow's deadline is still going to be met, while you are focused on the one due next week?

Do you have your roles covered?

If so, you will have time to read this - and more.