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Ben Franklin: Leadership Guru?
Posted by B2B on: 2006-08-11 10:39:36
Gerry Czarnecki
Ben Franklin: Leadership Guru? (c) Copyright 2006 by Gerald Czarnecki - All Rights reserved
Ben Franklin is typically associated with the Declaration of Independence, bifocals, and the spirit of invention. His name doesn't generally bring to mind "management guru", but Justin Fox, an editor of Fortune magazine posits that the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a self-help guide for management. In his article "What Ben Franklin Can Teach Execs", Fox offers insightful observations about how this historical figure's life story is full of lessons for modern-day managers.
As the owner of a printing shop and publisher of a newspaper, Franklin was a businessman who, like most of us, struggled with time-management and order. To combat this problem, he devised a plan to set a daily schedule with goals and tasks assigned in hourly segments of each day. At the end of the day, he asked himself "What good have I done today?" As Fox astutely observes, Franklin's approach is no different than the best practices that should guide modern management activities.
"This emphasis on setting goals for the day ahead and taking stock afterward remains a staple of time-management advice. (At least, so I'm told.) There's clearly something to it: I know that I'm far more likely to accomplish something when I have a well-defined to-do list for the day. But in a work world where conflicting, competing priorities are the norm, it's really hard to stick to such a list... This is perhaps the most appealing aspect of Franklin's time-management advice: He was an admitted failure at it, and yet that was... okay. Which is just about the most inspirational message conceivable." http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/08/magazines/fortune/plug
gedin_fortune/index.htm
Whether or not you succeed in checking each task off of your daily list, you will be more productive and more focused simply by having such a list. Set goals, then determine which assignments are necessary to achieve your goals. Each assignment should be given a deadline that is reasonable yet ambitious. A sense of urgency is better than the feeling that one has plenty of time to "slack off". At the end of the day, you will have a great sense of satisfaction at how much you were able to accomplish, and be better able to assess what you need to do tomorrow.
About the author:
Gerry Czarnecki promotes excellence in leadership through activities as an author, public speaker & consultant. He also trains boards of directors in corporate governance best practices. For leadership books & programs go to www.the-czar.com; for his business consulting & governance training visit www.deltennium.com
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