Do you ever feel like you’re constantly juggling emails, requests, deadlines, meetings, and messages, all while struggling to stay focused on your long-term strategic efforts? You’re not alone. Most of the leaders I work with face this challenge daily.
Let me tell you about a game-changing habit that can transform how you work. Stephen Covey popularized the concept of your Big Rocks in his timeless book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” (which is still worth a read if you haven’t already). Let me share how I’ve adapted this useful practice to help you succeed in today’s fast-paced world.
Think of your long list of to-dos as a bucket filled with sand, pebbles, and Big Rocks. The Big Rocks are your longer-term, major strategic objectives – the ones that matter most in the areas you lead. They are the 2-3 bigger-picture goals you’re primarily responsible for and can have a profound impact on over a period of about a year.
Here’s the secret: prioritize your 3 Big Rocks. While you’ll always contribute to others’ priorities, clarity about your own Big Rocks is crucial. These 3 Big Rocks represent your bigger picture goals with a substantial organizational impact. For instance, ensuring an environmentally progressive and stable supply chain could be a Big Rock for a Director of Operations.
Next in the bucket are the pebbles – your day-to-day tasks, projects, and efforts important to the organization but not directly connected to your Big Rocks (although they probably feed into someone else’s Big Rocks).
Then, there’s the sand – these are tasks that need to get done (filling out timesheets, or creating a job posting for a new hire, or something like that) but they don’t directly help you progress on your Big Rocks. You’ll still handle these, but your primary focus should be on your Big Rocks.
Time management is simply how you choose to spend your time (a simple concept, but not easy to apply). The key to mastering this approach is knowing your 3 Big Rocks and committing to them, even when faced with pressing deadlines. If you’re struggling to identify your Big Rocks or stay on track, I’m here to help.
Together, we’ll ensure your Big Rocks get the attention they deserve, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
Here’s to a more focused and impactful you!
