Climbing to the top of your role

It's busy. There are vacancies due to illness, workforce shortages and people moving around. Leaders and employees are working hard on many fronts to keep things afloat.

ONE THING I hear from leaders is that they are picking up tasks for their teams and don't feel they have time to do the things that add the most value. They feel like they aren't playing at the top of their roles. All their attention focuses on getting through the day-to-day in one piece.

Like Stephens Covey's model, which focuses on tasks, it might be helpful to look at where you are focusing your time and attention in your role and which activities have the most significant impact on your people, the business and your sense of satisfaction.

It can help you see how better to distribute your time, drop things that don't matter, outsource something or give team members different opportunities and the ability to step up or broaden their skills. And while you may not be able to reach the summit, you could take a few steps on the ascent that could have very positive benefits.

Nobody's role

If aspects of your role aren't having an impact and you aren't getting time to do anything with them, then maybe that is telling you something. Perhaps this is something that doesn't need doing or could be automated. Is this nobody's role?

Someone else's role

If you are spending all of your time on low-value work, then this isn't your job. It's a role for someone else. It could be a stretch for a team member and an opportunity for you to support their growth, autonomy and satisfaction.

Bottom of my role

If the work that is high value and has the greatest impact is not getting any of your attention, you are playing at the bottom of your role.  

Top of my role

When you get to spend time and attention on the things that add value, that make a real difference, you are playing at the top of your role.

Try this

Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Draw two lines and divide the page into four squares (like the diagram above). Have the horizontal line represent the value and impact your work has from 'low value' on the left to 'high value' on the right. The bottom represents where you are not paying attention, and the top shows where you place all of your attention.

Now use sticky notes or write what's essential to your role. How do you add the most value? Reflect on this yourself, but if you lead a team, discuss where they see you have the most significant impact? Talk to your boss.

Use the information to make incremental shifts in spending more time where you add the most value and are playing right at the top of your role.

I would love to hear what you discover.