the pebbles vs. the boulders

2022 is coming to an end and here is a big takeaway I’ve been sharing with my clients.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, things just don't seem to be going as smoothly as they could at work? That's what we call internal friction, and it can really hold a company back. It happens when people or teams get in each other's way, which can happen when a company is trying to do too much, when employees aren't aligned with company goals, or when individuals put their own interests ahead of the company's.

I have a client that uses this analogy of pebbles and boulders. She tells her team that if you fill your pockets with pebbles, you never have room for boulders. To me, the pebbles are the internal friction. When you have too much internal friction you can’t focus on the boulders, the big things you need to move to achieve your business goals.

Internal friction can cause all sorts of problems, like slowed business growth, employee disengagement, burnout, and overall dissatisfaction with work. It can also create chaos and confusion within the organization, making it hard to achieve goals and move forward. In the worst cases, it can even lead to the failure of a business.

So, what can you do about it? Here are a few steps you can take:

1. Focus on a smaller number of goals to keep the organization aligned and on track.

2. Size the workload to the team you have to avoid overburdening employees and causing burnout.

3. Prioritize collaboration and communication among employees to improve efficiency and reduce confusion.

It's also important to clearly define roles and responsibilities to reduce internal friction. Make sure all leaders understand their roles and what success looks like. This will help prevent confusion and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals. Aligning communication methods can also help reduce distractions and improve efficiency. For example, defining when to use different communication tools (email, Slack, video calls, etc.) can help employees know where to go for specific information.

As a CEO or HR leader, it's essential to recognize and address internal friction in your organization. By taking steps to minimize this friction, you can improve business growth, employee engagement, and overall satisfaction with work.

So, let's tackle internal friction so we can make 2023 a year to remember for everyone in our organizations.

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