The difference between “done” and “done-done” is usually that last five percent. That last five percent of a project. The last couple of weeks of the semester. The punch list. You know when you have reached “done” when you feel the inevitable internal pull to focus your attention on the great “what’s next!” But done is seldom done-done. Done-done is taking the project to 100%. One. Hundred. Percent. This means the punch list is punched and the tools are cleaned and put away properly. This is seeing the class through to the last minute of the last day. Many of us think done is done. Fewer of us know that done-done is where all of the benefit lies. The new book I am finishing about a new model of leadership specifically designed to help leaders win amid turbulent generational and technological change was done a few months ago (in my mind). Now this project is approaching done-done and will be available for sale in just a few short weeks. If you can keep your attention and energy up long enough, done-done is inevitable.
With your teams, don’t get out of the way, do this instead
"Get out of the way!" I often hear some version of this sentiment when talking about building a culture to incentivize high performance teams. "You have to find the right people, equip them, and then get out of the way." People who talk about getting out of the way...