We’ve all experienced those moments where we feel like everything and everyone is competing for our attention. In those moments it is hard to find balance in what feels like a never ending tornado, determined to wreak havoc in our daily lives. That level of urgency that we experience in our daily lives and within our daily job roles is referred to as the “whirlwind,” in the book The 4 Disciplines of Execution brilliantly crafted and explained by authors Chris McChesney, Sean Covey & Jim Huling. The authors describe the whirlwind as an “urgent [something] that acts on you and everyone working for you every minute of everyday” (pg 7). The things in the whirlwind are in direct competition with the important goals that are set within your organization and overcoming them in spite of that whirlwind becomes the real challenge. This is what the 4 disciplines are all about, being able to execute the most crucial strategies even in the midst of your whirlwind (McChesney et al., 2016).
With the 4DX model the balancing act of dealing with the urgency of the whirlwind is managed by looking at 4 disciplines that help individuals and organizations prioritize, and achieve real results.
The Four disciplines identified in the book are as follows:
1: Focus on the Wildly Important: This one is a big one! It requires organizations to focus on less to be able to achieve more. Hard concept for many of us, but when we zone in on 1 to 2 important goals, known also as wildly important goals (WIGs) it allows our team to understand what goals matter the most. As McChesney et al (2016) point out, teams cannot focus on 5, 10, or 20 goals at a time, but can focus on one really important goal while also managing their whirlwind.
2. Act on the Lead Measures: Leverage is the name of the game here, which is based on the principle that not all actions can be held with equal levels of urgency. Here we learn about the difference between our lag and lead measures. These two concepts are summed up beautifully in Chris McChesney’s short video on The 4 disciplines of execution in a Nutshell, where here he explains that lag measures track success (meaning by the time we review them their history), whereas lead measures track activities that drive the lag measures (2016). For most of us, we tend to focus on the lag measures because they are the outcome and proof of what's been achieved. Unfortunately, without your lead measures, you have no real way of seeing your progress or understanding and changing things to get to those lag measures. Therefore, lead measures have to be the priority.
3.Keep a Compelling Scoreboard: Everyone likes to know how they are doing on a task or goal, so do not keep the data away from your teams! Simply put, “people play differently when they’re keeping score” (McChesney et al., 2016, p.12). This is where engagement plays a major factor, as high levels of performance are linked to engagement and people tend to stay engaged when they know the score.
4.Create a Cadence of Accountability: It is here where everything really begins to come together. Creating a cadence of accountability is where individuals and organizations begin to execute. It is not until this point that teams are in the game, where at this point members of a team begin to recognize and practice the act of accountability even in the midst of the whirlwind.
Each layer of the 4DX Model holds a level of importance that while simple isn’t simplistic. To execute and see lasting change requires work on everyone's part that goes beyond just being able to manage the whirlwind. As McChesney (2011) puts it in his video clip on moving your middle, behavior change requires commitment and through that commitment organizations have the opportunity to utilize different variables of great performance to push towards their goals. McChesney’s video helps put a face to accountability as he uses real life experiences and clients who have used the model to help paint a picture.
Overall, I look forward to outlining the 4DX model for my own organization, understanding that by narrowing the focus I can dedicate time to an important goal while still understanding that the whirlwind exists.
References:
McChesney, C. (2011, July 26). Move your middle - Chris McChesney. YouTube. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://youtu.be/j3ThJ5b3vww
McChesney, C. (2016, December 29). The 4 disciplines of execution in a Nutshell. YouTube. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://youtu.be/aEJDliThj7g
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2016). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals. Free Press.
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