Great Leaders are Thorough
Great Leaders are Thorough
It’s attention to detail that makes the difference between average and stunning.
– Francis Atterbury
Thoroughness is a crucial component of leader success. Research shows that people who are meticulous, detail-oriented, and well organized are more likely to be not only better employees, but more effective leaders1.
Leader thoroughness refers to not only having a plan, but knowing all the elements of that plan inside and out during each stage of that plan. This helps a leader ensure that everything is proceeding on time and according to plan. It also makes them better equipped to execute their plan by helping to manage and organize all the moving parts as needed. Knowing details will help a leader plan ahead and identify problems that may arise in the future. This subsequently allows the leader to prepare solutions to potential problems, and implement these solutions quickly and effectively.
Being thorough and detail-oriented will improve a leader’s decision-making abilities2. The extent to which a leader comprehensively gains information about a given situation is likely to reflect in how thorough they are. Accumulating a lot of information about a scenario will help a leader to make better, well-informed decisions, especially without having to rely on others for additional input.
In assessing your ability to effectively remember details, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I remember small details of plans?
- Do I know how the work we’re doing fits into the bigger picture?
- Am I able to effectively answer my employees’ questions about the task at hand?
- Do I rely on others to fill me in on important details?
- Can I anticipate the potential issues or complications in my work?
- Do I have enough information to make informed decisions?
Improve Your Thoroughness
Use your communication skills: Communication is an essential tool in applying thoroughness to your work and to the work of your direct reports. Ensure you have gathered all the information from other stakeholders before designing and implementing a strategy, plan, or solution. Communication can not only help you gather enough knowledge and background on issues, it can also help you convey your plan to others. Effective application of thoroughness involves communicating fine details (and the importance of these details) to others around you.
Avoid multi-tasking: An important element of thoroughness is your ability to focus on details. Of course, this focus will be reduced if you are overloaded or attempting to work on too many tasks at one time. While leaders often have a heavy load of responsibilities, when you need thoroughness, it is best to focus on one part of your task at a time. Slowing down and giving your full attention to a task ensures you give your full consideration to the matter at hand. Of course, some tasks require more thorough care than others, so be sure to consider your priorities when choosing where to devote your limited time and resources.
Be mindful in your work: Given the importance of attention to detail, mindfulness can be a great personal resource to improve your thoroughness. Research suggests that individuals who are more mindful are more alert, and therefore less likely to get distracted at work3. When you find yourself unable to focus, take a moment to pause, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Mindfulness is about letting thoughts and feelings arise and pass without judgment. Focusing on your breathing can help bring your attention back from distraction to the matter at hand.
Start Doing These 3 Things Now to Become More Detail-Oriented
The following steps can help you be more thorough in your role:
- Get organized. Make lists, take notes, use a calendar and as many spreadsheets as you can get your hands on to help you organize your work. Design a system to help you streamline your workflow. This will not only help you become more thorough and detail-oriented, but it will also help you improve your performance and efficiency at work. Having quick access to all the details of a given project plan, schedule, or meeting agenda will increase your knowledge of things happening around the office.
- Plan your day before diving in. Planning your day and generating estimates of time you will allocate to each of your duties will help you get more out of your time. It will make you more thorough in your coverage of work-related duties and also allow you to maximize the amount of time you intend to spend on each task.
- Keep detailed notes for your review. For some people, it can be hard to keep track of every detail of each task in their head. To help you with this, consider carrying around a note pad or using digital note-taking software on an electronic device. Take notes as you go about your day. Keeping detailed records of projects, meetings, and events will help you remember everything. Finally, setting aside some time each day to review your notes will help you keep important details at the forefront of your thoughts.
Resources
WATCH: How Detailed-Oriented People Approach Tasks
READ: 10 Things Only Detail-Oriented People Do
LISTEN: Focus! An Interview with Daniel Goleman
DEVELOP: Develop your thoroughness by taking advantage of SIGMA’s coaching services.
Interested in a hard copy of this handout? Download your PDF copy of our Leadership Series Handout
Contact
Contact SIGMA for coaching on developing your skills as a leader.
SIGMA Assessment Systems, Inc.
Email: support@SigmaHR.com
Call: 800-265-1285
1 Judge, T. A., Bono, J. E., Ilies, R., & Gerhardt, M. W. (2002). Personality and leadership: a qualitative and quantitative review. Journal of applied psychology, 87(4), 765.
2 LePine, J. A., Hollenbeck, J. R., Ilgen, D. R., & Hedlund, J. (1997). Effects of individual differences on the performance of hierarchical decision-making teams: Much more than g. Journal of Applied Psychology, 82(5), 803.
3 Dane, E., & Brummel, B. J. (2014). Examining workplace mindfulness and its relations to job performance and turnover intentions. Human Relations, 67, 105-128.