Taking the Do It® Step

Over the last several weeks, we have explored what it means to get Above The Line^® and take the Steps to Accountability^®. Now, we take the final step and Do It! This critical step can be hard to sustain if we have not taken the right approach at the outset. That is, if our results (what we want to ultimately “do”) are unclear, then it will be difficult to maintain the needed focus.

In recent on-line surveys conducted with thousands of business leaders during our complimentary webinars, we found that 87% of respondents said the key results for their organization were either not at all defined or were not defined well enough. Also, 84% said that their priorities change frequently, creating confusion around the key results they need to achieve.

It’s difficult to Do It when you are not able to create a clear focus on the results you need to achieve. Here are the four best practices that our research has revealed when it comes to the Do It step:

This is the execution phase of the journey Above The Line and it often requires some solid process to ensure delivery over time. Do It means to follow-through and make it happen. Tracking your progress and being transparent about it helps, but you have to make sure you’re working on the right things and not get distracted.

One client who runs a world-renown medical center dealt with the dilemma of patients falling in the hospital. To address this problem, they instituted the “red sock” campaign. The idea was that all employees of the hospital, not just the nurses, would know that anyone wearing red socks was a falling risk.

One administrative manager noticed a patient standing outside of the hospital in red socks on her way into the building. She thought it was strange to see them there. Normally, she would walk by something like that and not think twice about it. However, she knew she was accountable to Do It! So, she approached the patient and asked if they were someone who was at risk of falling. The patient explained that they had just come out for some fresh air. She asked if anyone knew that they were outside. The patient said “no.” This manager had the patient sit down and found a nurse who could help them out.

With that focus on the follow-through of the plan, the medical facility experienced a dramatic reduction in falls and an increase in patient safety. Being clear about results helps everyone successfully take the Do It step. It’s all about staying focused on the priorities, operating Above The Line, visibly tracking that progress and doing the things we said we would do.

To learn more about how well your organization takes the Do It step, visit our website at www.partnersinleadership.com and try one of the complimentary individual or team assessments.