Personal Efficiency vs. Effectiveness

Your effectiveness is not the golden ticket to your success.

There are two approaches to achieving a goal.

We can focus on our own efficiency, disciplines, focus, and skillset and may very well reach our goal. We can optimize our work. Streamlining processes, boosting productivity – it all makes sense. It’s a steady climb, each gain proportional to the effort invested. It’s the linear path and safe bet. However, personal efficiency alone operates within limits.

Meaningful relationships, both personal and professional, introduce an element of unpredictability. Networking, collaborating, and building connections may feel inefficient at first, but that is what initiates the hockey stick effectiveness curve.

As your community builds, the impact you have exponentially grows. As a leader, if you can galvanize a group of people towards a common goal, you will impact far more than you could individually.

Relationships are not efficient. They are messy and hard. Spending time building a relationship doesn’t check a box on the to-do list. It will make it difficult to get your tasks accomplished each week.

That struggle is only temporary though. As your relationships blossom, you unlock the ability to move far beyond your own personal effectiveness and you will have more satisfaction along the way.