#Exciting Changes Column
2019.04.01
"Innovating Way of Working" Part 2. 4DX, Strongly Executing Clear Priorities
1. Spies who sabotage our effort
At the height of World War II in 1944, the CIA published an interesting document: the "Simple Sabotage Field Manual". It was a manual for spies trying to sabotage efforts in the field behind enemy lines. There are a few points that catch the eye.
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CIA
(Source)
"Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible."
"In making work assignments, always sign out the unimportant jobs first."
One might think 'who works like that?' but these acts of sabotage still occur frequently today. Let's take a look at 4DX (the 4 Disciplines of Execution) that enables us to overcome such sabotages and increases the level of execution by clearly prioritizing tasks.
2. 4DX : Spy Control Squad
The above Simple Sabotage manual 1) makes people forget the most important goal and 2) disrupts the focus on execution. Shall we send our hidden spies around us to 4DX?
1) Further clarify the most important goal!
NASA's establishment in 1958 (Source)
The 8 objectives that were full of great words made members confused about what they should aim for and what was more important. Spending time on ordinary routine tasks (a whirlwind) that should be spent focusing on priorities is also because it is unclear what the priorities are.
In 1961, John F. Kennedy said, "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth." As soon as he made the goal clear, members of NASA had a clear goal to focus on. And in July 1969, the U.S. sent a man to the Moon for the first time.
2) Leading indicators, the leverage for the most important goal
When you have made your most important goal clear, the next step is to think about what leading indicators will help you achieve the most important goal. According to the 4DX, leading indicators are the 'leverage' that moves the most important goal. They must be regularly checked to see if they still have relevance with the most important goal and be updated.
It is easier to understand the relationship between the most important goal and a leading indicator from an individual perspective. So, let's assume that we have set the most important goal as to lose 5kg by July this year. Leading indicators in achieving this goal would be, for example, going to the gym 4 times a week, or hiking every weekend – things that can impact and move the needle on achieving the most important goal. You can expect that if you execute your leading indicators well, the possibility of achieving your most important goal would increase.
It is easier to understand the relationship between the most important goal and a leading indicator from an individual perspective. So, let's assume that we have set the most important goal as to lose 5kg by July this year. Leading indicators in achieving this goal would be, for example, going to the gym 4 times a week, or hiking every weekend – things that can impact and move the needle on achieving the most important goal. You can expect that if you execute your leading indicators well, the possibility of achieving your most important goal would increase.
3) Improve power of execution using scoreboard and the most important goal meeting
Like how we renew our New Year's resolutions every year, if we do not regularly review our most important goal and remind ourselves, the goal may be forgotten behind our everyday duties or urgent matters. Also, if we do not check to see if the leading indicators are effectively moving the most important goal, we might waste valuable time and effort on things that no longer have impact on the most important goal. Therefore, it is important to share a scoreboard, which reflects the most important goal and leading indicators, for everyone to see and spend time discussing 'commitments' that can move the leading indicators with team members at the most important goal meeting.
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Personally-taken photos
3. Epilogue
The 4DX Workshop of setting the most important goals and leading indicators of each teams was held from January this year until last week, where all members of the Amorepacific sales teams & SCM Unit, total of 14 Divisions and 94 teams took part in. We would like to thank everyone who actively engaged in the workshop and discussed the most important goals and indicators of each teams despite the busy schedule.
The term 'short-lived plan' is not applicable to our personal lives only. We also sometimes forget what the most important goal of the company this year is when we are busy with everyday work. 4DX will continue to support you so that you can achieve the plans you set out for this year at the 4DX Workshop!
The term 'short-lived plan' is not applicable to our personal lives only. We also sometimes forget what the most important goal of the company this year is when we are busy with everyday work. 4DX will continue to support you so that you can achieve the plans you set out for this year at the 4DX Workshop!
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