It has been said, “The devil (or depending on your perspective), God is in the details.” This is very true for those of us who lead. With everything we do, there seems to be an enormous amount of details which must be addressed if your enterprise is going to meet even the most basic of objectives. I have hardcopy lists, timelines, electronic training materials, apps, a smartphone, tablet, laptop, and PC, people who work on my team, plus my memory of decades of experience. All together these combine to achieve the common purpose of taking care of all the details!
This came to mind today as I received yet another request for one more piece of information needed by a broker for a mortgage refinance I’m enduring. It seems that every time I think this is done, there is one more detail to handle. Fortunately, I’m organized and I can usually find any obscure piece of information that is requested, but it can be an attitude adjustment tool nonetheless. Anyone who has been through a real estate transaction understands this. The level of details involved can be mind-numbing. So that you know that I’m not just venting, here are three things to think about when dealing with details as a leader.
First, don’t let details take you by surprise. Do your homework ahead of time so that you’re ready for the requests when they come up, whether it be in a transaction or a organization-wide event. The more you can work ahead, the less stress there will be when the unexpected requests come in, which brings us to the next thing.
Be organized. Have your ducks in a row. This morning wasn’t really more than annoyance because I knew where to look for the one set of papers they were requesting. Within a few minutes, I was on my way to deliver what was needed.
Third, keep your eye on the big picture. Details happen, thousands of them. It can be overwhelming if we allow ourselves to look only at the to-do lists, emails, and the myriad of other details still to be handled. In order to avoid the paralyzation which can come when being buried with details, look to the big picture. Constantly remind yourself of the end result for which you are striving. This morning, I had to remind myself of the benefits I will see when this process is over. I wasn’t happy about having to find one more piece of paper, but when this is over, I’ll be glad I did. This is really crucial as a leader. Pay attention to the details, but keep your eyes on the goal.
Lead well.