GapAssessment

Before we go about getting better, it pays to know where the gaps exist.

Many wise leaders I know are in a continuous process of gap assessment. Here's how they discern the areas of needed improvement:

• Collect and carefully assess the hard data, making sure that the data they spend their time on is relevant and meaningful.
• Move about the organization, LISTENING carefully to the folks at the front line of each "division" of the work. 
• Engage often and deeply with the "customers" of the organization.
• Reflect often on the Vision of their organization, having conversations with many stakeholders about how/if that Vision will make the world a better place for all. (If it doesn't, it likely needs to be changed.)
• Carefully articulate and codify intended outcomes move the organization toward that Vision, with the actions that generate those outcomes.

Finding the gaps, then doing something about them, is pretty steady work. Paying attention to both the hard data and the soft data is more occult art than exact science. Those wise leaders know, without doubt, that continuous engagement with stakeholders is required.

Almost looks like full days/weeks/months of communications, huh?