Picking the right gear

If your team’s work were a car…what gear is it in?

An odd question that conceals a lesson about not paying attention to your competitors:

• The right gear at the right time creates economical gains. You’re growing as a team, but not at a pace that works for where you are right now.
• Holding a gear too long loses economy and gains. By not continuously improving your team’s performance, you’ll outgrow your systems and lose ground.
• Shifting up too early risks gains or even stalling. A competitor may be there, but rushing up to their level will only slow you down, or stall you out.

If your work is important, what others are doing doesn’t matter – copying them won’t create you results like picking the right gear for you will.