Function Over Form

Last week, I wrote about how doing “something special” consistently in your workplace can make you successful. I also mentioned that those things didn’t need to be dramatic. After thinking further about this, I'm adding that what you do must have SUBSTANCE. We have all worked with people at one time or another who spend their time posturing. They certainly make every effort to appear busy and, of course, important. They spend hours and days in important meetings and confab frequently with the big boss about important stuff. They jet out of town on important business, hire consultants for important work, and write numerous long and important emails. But what do they actually accomplish? Do they really serve a valuable purpose, or are they mostly about form over function? That sort of manager or executive quickly earns a lack of respect. Avoiding this potential pitfall is fairly easy if you focus on priorities and goals, and communicate with your team. Make sure that the level of effort you expend results in a commensurate level of accomplishment. Just doing email IS NOT an accomplishment. Reviewing a team member’s work product and providing valuable feedback and coaching IS an accomplishment. Flying to a far away city for a meeting IS NOT an accomplishment. Going to a meeting and bringing back actionable decisions and information that you communicate to your team IS an accomplishment. Try this exercise: At the end of every week or month, list your accomplishments – actions completed that took you a step closer to documented goals. If you list something that is more form than function you will recognize it as lame when you put it in writing. Be honest with yourself. Over time, this exercise will help discipline you to accomplish more functional tasks. This can also become a good communication to share with your boss. Time can too easily get consumed by things that don’t matter. Focus on substance. Real work over posturing. Function Over Form.