Too often business owners are busy about everything but actually doing business. They don’t have bosses and can be time-wasters. Employees can catch that bug, too. Not good. Looking back, I can see that this was never much me and has a lot to do with my longevity.
I am unique, and here is my weird stuff that speaks to my point. I have had nice buildings, but for 10 years have not put an office in one for me. I prefer to sit in others’ spaces or in a conference room to work. When I did have an office, I was never in it more than 20 minutes. I would walk around the place or see a customer instead. I wear out more shoe leather than seat fabric or mouse pads. This comes somewhat out of my ADHD, but I recommend it.
The CEO carries business horsepower that can be – and should be – put to work for the betterment of his company, employees and himself. For example, some may choose to make a throne room out of their office. This just walls off positive ju ju you could be putting forth during the workday. When I did use an office, I would not have doors made for it. “Tom is the only person who improved upon the open-door policy,” a banker told me. Thank you. For 30 years, I never filed anything nor had a file cabinet, although staff keeps things in order.
Exactly the point. They keep things in order so I can be giving the orders or obtaining orders. Making a sales call. Closing a deal. Working something with the bank. Hiring a good employee. Deciding on a new location. Settling a lawsuit. Investigating a new product. Going to a seminar. Pulling together an employee function. Getting a loan. Anything but administrative stuff. Planning a promotion. I am supposed to make money with my time.
I never keep an appointment book. Keep it in my head. Don’t want anything I have to consult.
Running lean is the way to go. It is a frame of mind and a leadership style. It produces the most results. It surrounds you with honesty and good communication. It generates energy. It keeps people moving. It is the most honest. Your company will move at the speed you do, so percolate a continual sense of urgency into it.
Owners may, by contrast, take valuable time walling off from employees. Being uncommunicative. Lathering in technology. Requiring formal schedules. Being remote from customers. Not riding with employees nor lunching with them. Talking on the phone. Staring at their device. That is good horsepower leaving the building.
Don’t let that be you. Be able to answer “yes” when asked this about you: “Hey, that thing got a Hemi in it?”
Tom Pease is owner of e/DocSystem Inc.