Seth Godin recently shared an insightful blog post called “Actionable Feedback” (look it up if you’re not subscribed).
The main point: You have the power to reject feedback from individuals who offer no valuable or actionable insights.
In fact, it’s advisable not to accept such feedback.
When your team is focused on high ROI behaviors, and you’re diligently measuring their progress towards their goals, you should expect to hear more “no” responses from them.
It might sound like, “I have to decline that request so I can stay committed to my top priority, which is ________.”
And yes, their top priority should be tracked using KPIs or other metrics.
If you struggle to say “no” to anything, it indicates a flawed prioritization process.
Remember, busyness is the ultimate form of laziness, and this principle reveals how it manifests.
If you and your team never utter the word “no,” it signifies a lack of proper prioritization.
Of course, you have the option to run your business that way—embracing the unknown, constant emergencies, and every new idea leading to chaos and distraction. It might make you feel productive, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend it.
The choice is yours.