But it is urgent

We all do what is urgent.  That's fine ... as long as don't forget to do what's important.

Everytime you attend to a crisis or 'fight a fire', think about what you haven't thought about that might come home to bite you in a few days, weeks or months.

Do nothing

Sometimes the world seems to be moving at breakneck speed.  The external environment is changing so fast it is difficult to know what to do for the best.

Sometimes, at times like these ... indeed at a time like now ... its better to do nothing.

Knuckle down and survive.  Let the strategy wait until the world is a little more certain.

Think now

Are you thinking about addressing your energy costs? For most businesses, these are becoming a real problem. Fuel prices have been rising and there is a clear need to control energy usage ... and cost. Yet, this is something you should be doing anyway. The priority might be higher now, but shouldn't you be controlling all your costs? If you have not been paying attention to the cost of energy, what else are you failing to control? Look at the figures - find out what ALL your significant costs are ... and work out ways of reducing them. Its your money, after all!

Remember everything

I just read an account from a small business owner of how he had managed to significantly improve productivity.  He was basing this on the fact that the ratio of output to wage costs was a higher ratio than a couple of years ago.

How had he done this?  By judicious investment in new machinery.

So, was his productivity really better ... if you factor in the costs of purchasing and running the machinery?  I don't know ... but neither does he.  (His labour productivity was clearly improved .. but that doesn't mean multi-factor productivity is better).

So, be careful what you include ... and exclude .. when you measure how well you are doing!

You are your own reality checker

I read recently that allowing workers to surf the web whilst at work improves their productivity.  Counter-intuitive?  Possibly.  Is it right?  I wouldn't know ... but I wouldn't necessarily believe it.

Its like all the diet stories - red meat is good/bad for you, dairy products are good/bad for you, red wine is good/bad for you.

I know personally red wine is something I enjoy (and I might claim that it helps relieve stress) but it does add to my girth.  I therefore take a 'balanced view' as to whether, and how much, to drink.

You should do the same with issues like staff surfing the internet.  Is it a problem?  No!  Well don't try to solve it.