So you are a General Manager in your business. Do you understand this to mean that you manage generalities, or do you understand it to mean that you are a General? Which ever you believe, that is how you will act. So will you spend your time managing the day to day details and the wildfires that pop up? There is nothing wrong with that and someone has to manage this part of the business. If you are good at it and find it fulfilling, I encourage you to continue with what you are doing.
If you are a General, commanding a division or responsible for an entire operation, then you require a different approach. I don’t know much about how Generals operate today, but I do know something about how Generals have operated historically. Here is a tried and tested routine you can use.
1. Sit on the hill and observe. Look at the field of contention. Watch your troops. Watch the opposing troops. Observe the environment and the conditions. Then meditate on the objectives. Wait and watch. Listen.
2. Rally the officers. Bring the managers and the leaders together. Discuss the objectives. Discuss the opportunties and challenges. Evaluate the risks. Be realistic about your capabilities.
3. Give your orders. Send the officers out to implement your orders.
4. Go back to the hill and sit a while. How is it going? What is working or not working? Who is doing well and who isn’t? How were your orders effective or ineffective?
5. Go down into the fray. Help a few units make an objective. Offer encouragement to a few officers. Adjust a few orders. Learn all you can.
6. Go back up to the hill and sit a while. How is it going? What is working or not working? Who is doing well and who isn’t? How were your orders effective or ineffective?
7. Rally the officers. Review and adjust strategy and tactics. Give a new set of orders.
8. Go to lunch.
9. Go walk the dog, play with the kids and snuggle your spouse.
10. Take a walk and then get some rest.
Repeat.
