How hard is it for you to balance innovation and execution?

July 18, 2008

I’m watching my son mow the lawn methodically in straight lines. He does the same thing every week. He executes his work. He waits until the grass is dry enough, decides whether or not he is going to use the bagger, moves stuff out of the way, uses the push mower first then the rider, etc. Plan. Execute. Admire.

My lawn mowing technique is more crop circle-like. Innovative. Different every time. Messy. Soccer ball in my path? No problem. I’ll just go around it (otherwise I’d have to put down my beer). Sometimes, I won’t even mow the entire lawn on the same day. That way, it’s never done. I often work that way too. Spontaneous. Sporadic. Messy.

I rebooted my innovative self two weeks ago by going on vacation and seem to have started up in the “execute” mode. Which is good because too much time spent on innovation means nothing gets done. And nobody wants to pay the laborer who makes crop circles in the yard.

Of course too much time executing means lack of vision. No creating little walking paths off to the side of the main lawn. You’re too busy admiring the lawn.

How do you balance all the innovative discoveries that present themselves with the need to execute?

Photo: Matthew Rambo

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  • Andy

    This is key! I’m going through a phase right now (or maybe it’ll actually stick) of trying to go through a period of reading/research (catching up on blogs, say), reflection, and then deciding on one main “project” to tackle next…and then a period of hunkering down and just focusing on getting that one main project done. Then back to the first phase of taking a step back, looking around, and reflecting.

  • Andy

    This is key! I’m going through a phase right now (or maybe it’ll actually stick) of trying to go through a period of reading/research (catching up on blogs, say), reflection, and then deciding on one main “project” to tackle next…and then a period of hunkering down and just focusing on getting that one main project done. Then back to the first phase of taking a step back, looking around, and reflecting.

  • http://daveswhiteboard.com/ Dave Ferguson

    In terms of technological innovation, I let my [ natural skepticism | laziness | mild disinterest ] guide me. Tools per se don’t attract me half as much as a tool accomplishing some purpose that makes sense to me.

    For example, I’m wrestling with large numbers of documents that have been track-changed by two or three other people. It’s not sensible to use “accept all changes;” I need to see what’s been tweaked. On the other hand, I often hit a chunk of simple insertions and deletions that I don’t have to study for long.

    Despite having used Word literally as long as there’s been Word, I only discovered last night that I can highlight a flock of changes (like all those within a table) and “accept all.” That accepts only those.

    So, though I knew the concept of the accept tool, I wasn’t intrigued enough by it to wander through the Moors of Documentation, hoping to find a hidden gem.

  • http://daveswhiteboard.com Dave Ferguson

    In terms of technological innovation, I let my [ natural skepticism | laziness | mild disinterest ] guide me. Tools per se don’t attract me half as much as a tool accomplishing some purpose that makes sense to me.

    For example, I’m wrestling with large numbers of documents that have been track-changed by two or three other people. It’s not sensible to use “accept all changes;” I need to see what’s been tweaked. On the other hand, I often hit a chunk of simple insertions and deletions that I don’t have to study for long.

    Despite having used Word literally as long as there’s been Word, I only discovered last night that I can highlight a flock of changes (like all those within a table) and “accept all.” That accepts only those.

    So, though I knew the concept of the accept tool, I wasn’t intrigued enough by it to wander through the Moors of Documentation, hoping to find a hidden gem.

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  • http://technogenii.wordpress.com/ Kristina Schneider

    You got me thinking about this question Janet! So much so, that I dedicated a whole post to it.

    Kristina Schneiders last blog post..Getting All Things Done Means Getting the Balance Right

  • http://technogenii.wordpress.com Kristina Schneider

    You got me thinking about this question Janet! So much so, that I dedicated a whole post to it.

    Kristina Schneiders last blog post..Getting All Things Done Means Getting the Balance Right

  • http://karynromeis.blogspot.com/ Karyn Romeis

    I’m not much of a one for faffing. I like to just get on and do.

    So I don’t think I fall into either of your categories. I certainly don’t see the task as the end in itself, but, on the other hand, I want it to be done. For me, mowing the lawn is about making it look presentable especially if we’re having guests over (which happens a LOT).

    Like your son, I am beerless and I work in straight lines. But I don’t stop to admire, and I don’t spend ages assessing the conditions and preparing for the task.

    Can there be such a thing as a pragmatic lawnmower operator? ;o)

    Karyn Romeiss last blog post..GO GET A JOB!

  • http://karynromeis.blogspot.com Karyn Romeis

    I’m not much of a one for faffing. I like to just get on and do.

    So I don’t think I fall into either of your categories. I certainly don’t see the task as the end in itself, but, on the other hand, I want it to be done. For me, mowing the lawn is about making it look presentable especially if we’re having guests over (which happens a LOT).

    Like your son, I am beerless and I work in straight lines. But I don’t stop to admire, and I don’t spend ages assessing the conditions and preparing for the task.

    Can there be such a thing as a pragmatic lawnmower operator? ;o)

    Karyn Romeiss last blog post..GO GET A JOB!

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  • mark

    Funny – I have been thinking of this a lot as of late. I sometimes (many times actually) kick myself for my indecisive nature as I flit here and there getting my plan together. I am starting to think; “heck, this is part of my plan!” So as I approach the design of an ILT (due in 4 weeks) I have spent the first 2 days brain dumping, searching for inspiration, and a lot of sketching … Fear strikes …then I realize that this is all part of the plan …going forward – all project plans will have 5% added for a task titled “flitting” or something like that …

  • mark

    Funny – I have been thinking of this a lot as of late. I sometimes (many times actually) kick myself for my indecisive nature as I flit here and there getting my plan together. I am starting to think; “heck, this is part of my plan!” So as I approach the design of an ILT (due in 4 weeks) I have spent the first 2 days brain dumping, searching for inspiration, and a lot of sketching … Fear strikes …then I realize that this is all part of the plan …going forward – all project plans will have 5% added for a task titled “flitting” or something like that …

  • http://www.brandon-hall.com/ Janet Clarey

    Flit away Mark. I think it’s where we find our inspiration and it’s healthy but, for me at least, a bit fearful too.

  • http://www.brandon-hall.com Janet Clarey

    Flit away Mark. I think it’s where we find our inspiration and it’s healthy but, for me at least, a bit fearful too.

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