General Electric started out in 1889 making light bulbs. It’s businesses at one time or another included electricity, lighting, RCA, NBC, radio & television stations, appliances, jet engines, wind turbines, computers, insurance, finance, healthcare equipment, gas and oil.
GE leaders learned what to do and what to stop doing. Leadership learned to say no to things the company was were no longer good at doing. GE products no longer light our home or cook our food. Today, three lean independent companies focus on wind energy aerospace and healthcare equipment.
Mission Driven Leaders Focus Resources. In the beginning, many nonprofits effectively grow their mission. Then they begin to look for opportunities to expand their services. It's tough to expand outside outside your core strength and competency.
The challenge is not to expand into areas they are not good at. When do you stop pouring resources into things that are not effective? If you are a leader and have a near-success and you give it another try, then another try, it should be obvious this is hard to do.
Mission driven leaders ask, "What is the outcome we want to achieve?" If you cannot achieve the desired outcome, then it's time to stop wasting resources on the product or service.
“Don’t tell me what you are doing. Tell me what you have stopped doing. I’ve seen a great many people who are exceedingly poor at picking the important things. They are magnificent at getting the unimportant things done.” - Peter Drucker
Stop wasting resources on unimportant things.
Effective leaders match the organization’s needs with their core competencies to achieve the desired outcome. Learn to say no to areas you lack competency.
Grow Mission Impact by focusing your limited energy and resources on what you are good at.
Wes Legg
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