Put It In Writing!
I've always been a put-it-in-writing type of person.
Call me old-school, but I also think there are real benefits to pen and paper, whether it's a journal, a work plan, or even a love note (My wife is a lucky lady, right?).
THE PROBLEM WITH ABSTRACTIONS
Too much of our plans and communications are abstract because they are left assumed, unclear, and misunderstood. They are never clarified and specified. This means that the goal or the plan lies in the mind of the beholder.
Writing makes things less abstract. Abstractions are undesirable for multiple reasons:
- Abstract goals are impossible to measure
- Abstract plans are impossible to enact
- Abstract fears are impossible to overcome
- Abstract feedback is impossible to act upon
- Abstract hiring plans lead to roles impossible to fill
PLANS AND GOALS
"Improve revenue" is an abstract plan. It lacks specificity and it lacks purpose. It can't be measured and it contains no inherent next step. It is barely useful as a starting point.
OKRs are a great countermeasure against abstract goals. A clear objective can be compelling emotionally and, when paired with clear Key Results, makes for a measurable plan.
A written list of tasks with three simple elements makes for a strong plan:
- Task name
- Task owner
- Due date
ABSTRACT FEARS
Abstract fears have way more power because they are endless. The sense of fear and doom that lives in your head has no words -- is has only pictures and emotions. Pictures and emotions have no sense of time and are hence, limitless. Therefore, they feel all-encompassing and overwhelming.
The solution — write your fears down. This forces you to use words which moves fear from an abstraction into a finite thing.
ABSTRACT FEEDBACK
Managers often resort to abstract feedback because they haven't thought it through, they lack a deep understanding of the problem, and they lack commitment or time. This feedback comes across as vague and unhelpful. Often it's plan wrong.
Try writing down these specifics:
- The behavior that is occurring
- The goal behavior(s) you want
- The ways that the results can move from failure to success
- The actual words you will use to share feedback with someone
ABSTRACT HIRING
Abstractions in hiring look like this:
- "We need someone strong in this role."
- "We need someone with solid experience."
This method of hiring doesn't work. What does work is having a written plan of what you need, why, and how to find out who meets your criteria. Try writing down:
- The results you need
- The typical experience of someone who'd be successful
- The typical training/education of a successful candidate
- The personality traits of the most successful candidate
- Any deal-breaker traits you want to avoid
- Questions you can ask that will help you recognize who has the traits you are specifically targeting above
WHY WRITING WORKS
Words are finite. A word has a meaning that is limited. Once you put something into words, it has been captured and cataloged.
A fear, challenge, or work plan written down is like a bird you’ve captured, caged, and tamed. A fear living in your head at 3am keeping you awake is like a horde of dragons terrorizing your home, attacking your family, and stealing your food with no hope of ever abating.
A fear, A challenge, or a work plan written down is like a bird you’ve captured, caged, and tamed.
The best leaders do not rely on abstractions. They paint vivid pictures and document clear plans. They over communicate. They model consistency in their messaging.
The best professionals manage their own thoughts and behaviors by eliminating abstractions in their own minds:
- Be clear about your strengths
- Document your worries and how you'll overcome them
- Write plans for your personal goals
- Identify and document your personal values
CONCLUSION
Find more ways to write down your goals, plans, intentions, and emotions. It's a powerful way to gain more power and control in your life.
Mike Lyons is an HR professional and consultant in the Austin, TX area. He can be found at TXHRGuy.com and on LinkedIn.