Meta Work
If you’re a leader, you need to do three things well to realize your vision:
These three areas build on one another and compound success. Let’s dive deeper into each…
1. Work in the business means using your unique skills and insight to help create and deliver the products and services your customers value. Leaders at all levels need to contribute work output that keeps them close to their customers and allows them to understand what their customers need and value. Contrary to some popular opinion, working in the business is valuable work for leaders.
2. Work on the business means taking time to assess how well the business is able to deliver your products and services and to continually improve how effective, efficient and adaptable your are in adding customer value. This includes:
Let’s call this work that creates a differentiated strategy.
3. Work on improving how you work on the business means improving your ability to understand, articulate and deliver your differentiated strategy. While working on the business may sound daunting, real growth comes from improving how well you work on the business. This is work on the process that is used to work on the business.
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Leaders benefit first from acknowledging that working on the business is a process. Call it the strategy process. Recognize that it is ongoing work that requires regular attention and focused time to make it part of how you work and your company culture.
Next, adopt a strategy process that is tested and proven. Once adopted, work relentlessly to make it work for your business. Adapt and grow it as your needs change. Engage other leaders in the process. Continually improve your ability to continually improve your strategy and your ability to work toward your vision. Work on being the best at implementing a strategy process.
For more detail on what a strategy process is and how you can adopt one for your business, start with the one I use. It is borrowed and blended from tested ideas that fit most companies that have at least a few employees and some customers. I typically modify it depending on company maturity, and size, as you might do for your company. Ensure you address structure and processes while also focusing on culture, relationships, and people practices.
Or, you might pick another author’s “packaged” system. Check EOS, from Gino Wickman, Scaling Up from Verne Harnish, The Mochary Method, Balanced Scorecard from Kaplan and Norton, or System and Soul from White and Miller.
Keep in mind that success comes from finding time and focus to always work on these 3 areas that deliver your vision. Don’t work harder, work harder on the things that most impact success using these three as foundational building blocks.
If you found this article useful, please consider the following:
Jon Strickler: This is a masterclass in what I call “mentorship-level leadership.” It’s not just about building a strategy — it’s about building capacity to revisit and refine that strategy with intention, rhythm, and people at the center. That third piece — improving how you work ON the business — is the one I see most often overlooked in leadership circles. Yet it’s the difference-maker between a leader who reacts and one who evolves. Loved the blend of tactical systems and human-centred thinking here.
Jon Strickler, this is so true! Leaders who "work on how they work" are like business whisperers, unlocking hidden potential. It's not just about doing the work, it's about mastering the art of working. Thanks for sharing this golden nugget!
Jon Strickler This is a great breakdown and a real reminder that effective leadership requires continuous improvement and a clear strategy. Valuable guidance here!
I like how you recognized 2/3s is not IN the business - rather both ON and improving the ON. Sometimes as leaders we do have to work IN the business - but there should always be a plan to improve.
Jon Strickler, good framework to keep in mind.