Hey happy Monday!
This week I have heard this phrase so many times at the beginning of each meeting that I decided to use it as the opening of this note to see if you also have the same feeling: a June this hard has never been seen before!
Then school has just ended and, for those with children, it becomes necessary to completely reorganize family logistics.
But it is also a moment worth celebrating!
As a family we do it the way we like best: by traveling. I am writing to you from Arles where we will be for a few days.
I took this picture while we were out buying something for dinner, then the sky opened up. We didn’t have an umbrella. But we also didn’t have that worry of thinking about the Monday grind. And being in the rain turned into the most fun thing to do.
Do you still remember that feeling of having finished something epic?
That after that the road is all downhill?
That you no longer have to do your homework but only what you like?
It is the same feeling experienced by teams who have launched their OKRs using the Make Progress method.
That after the “fatigue” of getting their strategy in order they can now stop doing the tasks no one gave them-that exhausting work that is formed without any real strategic intention-and can instead devote themselves to the most energizing activities: those that grow the business.
At STRTGY we are selecting companies with which to work on last quarter’s goals. The one in which, without clear priorities, no one can catch up.
To enjoy the rainfall of results, one must prepare as early as today.
There are a few spots available to participate in the implementation programs starting this summer. If you want to build a business that can grow in all weather conditions, choose from my calendar the best time to meet.
I look forward to reading your name among the appointments.
In the meantime, I leave you with this week’s notes.
ALWAYS MAKE PROGRESS ⤴
-Antonio
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The illusion of control
3 things I learned about the illusion of control after 180 hours of OKR coaching in the first half of 2023 alone.
1 / The greater the control the lower the efficiency
The feeling of control is one of the most satisfying sensations there is….
Too bad that control is also one of the problems for which results are not achieved.
What is underestimated is the cost of control itself, which increases nonlinearly when volumes increase. And so efficiency is reduced.
It is the scientific reason why traffic lights are moooo much less efficient than traffic circles(IIHS, IOWA, Bristol)
2 / Constraints work better than rules
Control is based on compliance with rules, which also increases as volumes increase because errors will also be greater. New errors, new rules.
Rules describe the only possible way to do something. It means that it is necessary to predict everything in advance in a world that predictable is not. It is a contradiction in terms as well as a waste of resources.
Constraints are more effective than rules because they work in reverse. There are infinite ways in which an outcome can be brought about as long as certain principles are not violated.
For example, IKEA can create any item as long as it can be packed in a flat box.
Innovation happens when you can break the rules while staying true to the principles.
3 / From the culture of Permission to that of Progress.
The rules also describe who can do what and justify those who do not take the initiative because they are not authorized. Permission can come in many forms. The most common is “promotion.”
But the person receiving the promotion is exactly the same person an hour before and an hour after the investiture. Same background. Same mistakes. Same skills.
But now he has permission to make more important decisions.
“You are now a senior marketing manager! Congratulations, you can now better manage campaign budgets!”
“You are now the vice president of sales! Congratulations, now you can improve the sales funnel!”
“Now you are VP of Technology and Innovation, now you can fix that bug!”
What has changed? Culture.
The “permission culture” does not allow for better decisions.
It only makes them more expensive.
Instead of a “culture of permission,” it is better to build a “culture of progress.”
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How to get the most out of STRTGY
1 / Adopt the only OKR-based business growth system with STRTGY. Work with me and my team to implement the Make Progress Method in 12 weeks (or less). Here I show you how, step-by-step.
2 / Buy Make Progress with OKRs. The most pragmatic book ever written on management by objectives technique. Includes the effective 12-week implementation program and all immediately usable templates. Click here.
3 / Download the OKR Toolkit. If you are familiar with OKRs and just want to speed up their implementation, or solve specific problems with more effective tools, then get hold of all the templates. Click here4/ Leave a review on Amazon. Wherever you purchased MAKE PROGRESS with OKRs, know that if you spent at least €50 with your Amazon account, you can leave a review. Click here to rate the book, and allow other leaders like you to discover it.
