This phrase has come very close to being a mantra for me these days…
We used this phrase, and applied the sentiment behind it, frequently in a business group in which I worked a number of years ago. It was most commonly used to help drive smart decisions around our game design scope and to set feature and development related priorities. Since that time, it has become a question which I like to ask myself in a variety of situations.
Here are some examples:
What matters most:
- in our project plan feature set? (Does the team understand the priorities and the ‘why’ behind them?)
- to me, personally? (Do I know what I want in my life?)
- to me, professionally? (If an opportunity comes up, how do I know if it’s a fit?)
- to my boss, or to my team? (How can I best support their objectives?)
Etc…
During a time in my career where I was struggling somewhat with the question “what’s next?” I had the very great fortune to have a book land on my desk called Bury My Heart at Conference Room B: The Unbeatable Impact of Truly Committed Managers, by Stan Slap. (Special thanks in this regard to John Riccitiello, who was CEO of Electronic Arts at that time)
This book helped me to gain insights regarding my core values, and by doing this, allowed me to better understand what matters most to me. These values act as my filter in many ways. For example, I might be very flattered if I’m asked to work on a cool new project, or if I get approached regarding a new job opportunity. Applying a ‘what matters most’ filter ensures I don’t allow that sense of flattery to get in the way of doing what is truly right for me.
Do you know what your core values are, and what matters most for you personally? We learn in this book that by leading from our values, we exponentially improve our leadership competency and effectiveness.
Do you know what matters most in your latest project, or understand your organization’s priorities and business objectives? If you don’t, then it’s time to start asking some questions…
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