| Ben, a high-level leader in a multi-national | | | | this was the wrong person. Roger rushed off |
| firm, recently confessed that he felt like a | | | | to deal with the top tasks on his radar |
| bad father. That weekend he had messed up his | | | | screen. In the process, Sidney was hurt and |
| Saturday daddy duties. When he took his son | | | | became angry. Roger was taken by surprise |
| to soccer practice, Ben stayed for a while to | | | | since he thought he had done the right thing, |
| support him. In the process, though, he | | | | but he could have seen this coming. |
| forgot to take his daughter to her piano | | | | |
| lesson. By the time they got to the piano | | | | By focusing only on the tasks at hand and not |
| teacher's house, the next student was already | | | | on the people around him, Roger was reigning |
| playing. This extremely successful | | | | in one of his greatest talents - he wasn't |
| businessman felt like a failure. | | | | letting his gut work for him where people |
| | | | were concerned. If Roger's direct reports had |
| At work, one of Ben's greatest strengths is | | | | been on his radar screen, his gut would have |
| keeping his focus no matter what. As a | | | | told him that Sidney needed more than just a |
| strategic visionary, he keeps his eyes on the | | | | yes-or-no decision right now; he needed help |
| ongoing strategy, the high-profile projects | | | | making a good hire quickly. |
| and the high-level commitments of his group. | | | | |
| Even on weekends Ben spends time on email, | | | | An important question for Roger, and for many |
| reading and writing so he can attend the many | | | | leaders, is "How can I make sure key people |
| meetings in his busy work schedule. Since he | | | | are on my radar screen as well as the to-do's |
| is so good at multi-processing in his work | | | | of my job?" It's not just the VIPs who should |
| environment, he assumed he could do that at | | | | matter to you. You need to keep your team, |
| home too. | | | | their pressures and their projects, on your |
| | | | radar screen. They need to know you're |
| But when we talked, Ben was surprised to | | | | leading and supporting them and not just |
| realize that he is missing a crucial skill: | | | | riding roughshod over them to get things |
| keeping people on his radar. Ben is great at | | | | done. |
| holding tasks and strategies in the forefront | | | | |
| of his mind, but he has trouble thinking of | | | | Both Ben and Roger are capable and successful |
| people and their priorities in the same way. | | | | executives who keep their to-do's and their |
| To succeed at home, Ben needs to keep track | | | | commercial goals on their radar screen all |
| of his family members' needs in the same way | | | | the time. Yet they both find it hard to think |
| he tracks key business commitments. He also | | | | of people in the same way. |
| needs to consider what's on their radar | | | | |
| screens. | | | | Here are some approaches that helped them get |
| | | | people onto their radar screens without |
| In my field of executive coaching, I keep | | | | bumping off the other big things in their |
| every client on my radar screen by holding | | | | work lives. |
| them in my thinking on a daily and weekly | | | | |
| basis. That way, I can ask the right | | | | Take inventory. Who is slipping under your |
| questions and remind them of what matters in | | | | radar? Whether the people you need to keep |
| their work lives. No matter what your field | | | | track of are family members, direct reports |
| is, though, keeping people on your radar is | | | | or others, simply taking a head count can |
| essential. | | | | help you keep them on your screen. |
| | | | |
| Consider Roger, who led a team of gung-ho | | | | Write it down. For each person you need to |
| sales people. His guys and gals loved working | | | | track, make a brief list of what you think is |
| with him because his gut instincts were | | | | on his or her radar. Even if you don't |
| superb. He could look at most situations and | | | | remember everything you wrote, just writing |
| immediately know how to make them work. His | | | | it out will help you keep those people and |
| gut was great, almost a sixth sense. | | | | their priorities in mind. It will also tip |
| | | | you off if there is someone in particular who |
| But when Sidney, one of his team of sales | | | | needs extra attention right now. |
| managers, wanted to move quickly to hire a | | | | |
| new salesperson, Roger was busy. He was | | | | Say it. Before meetings and before making |
| managing a new sales campaign and wrangling | | | | decisions, say out loud what you'd like your |
| with marketing and headquarters bigwigs on | | | | impact to be on other people. This approach |
| how to position the company's consumer | | | | puts your intentions toward people on your |
| products. Those projects were the only things | | | | radar screen. |
| on his radar screen. He didn't realize that | | | | |
| Sidney was counting on hiring someone fast. | | | | Ask others to remind you. At work, your |
| | | | assistants can help you keep track of what's |
| Roger reviewed the paperwork for the new | | | | happening with key people. Let them know you |
| hire. It was apparent to Roger that the | | | | want people -- not just tasks -- to be on |
| prospective recruit didn't have the right | | | | your radar. That will empower your assistants |
| background for the role. He was too green in | | | | to remind you, in a low-key way, when some of |
| his experience with the senior people he'd be | | | | your priorities have slipped off the screen. |
| exposed to in the job. Roger saw that there | | | | At home, try asking family members to leave |
| would be political hassles down the road | | | | you notes in writing when they need to get |
| which would stymie someone without enough | | | | something on your radar. That will help you |
| political savvy or experience with other | | | | remember and will also help your family |
| parts of the organization. He wanted an | | | | members articulate their needs and what's |
| insider or a seasoned outside hire with great | | | | important to them. |
| political skills. | | | | |
| | | | Take just a little time each day, |
| To get the issue off his radar screen | | | | consistently, to put key people on your radar |
| quickly, Roger told Human Resources to give | | | | screen. It's worth a five-ten minute personal |
| the potential recruit a rejection letter. In | | | | update to determine what's on their radar |
| his haste, he didn't consult with Sidney | | | | screens so you don't miss out or mess up. The |
| first. It seemed obvious from the resume that | | | | effort will be well worth it. |