From the Ask Tom Mailbag:

Question:
I listened with great interest to your presentation on Time Span. Intriguing. But where do we start? Specifically, where does a small company start?

Response:
It’s difficult for me to understand what you understand about Time Span, so let’s start from this basic fundamental. Time Span comes from the inside kernel of every goal. A goal is a “what, by when?” It is the “by when?” (Time Span) that gives us insight into the complexity of the goal (task assignment).

And so, that’s where I start. As a manager, if I can more clearly understand the complexity of the task assignment, I can more clearly understand the capability required to be effective in that role. The biggest mistake most managers make is underestimating the capability required for effectively completing the task.

It’s all about the work. That’s where I start.

It starts with the Role Description, examining the task assignments, the accountabilities inside the role. I know this sounds like managerial fundamentals, and it is. But managerial fundamentals with new eyes.