A fort is defined as a fortified building or strategic position. It’s also viewed as military construction or building designed for defense. Leaders need that same protection against a breakdown inside an organization.
The FORT has four solid pillars that make up its design.
A FORT can be defined as a strategic position or a castle like your own home, company, organization or office. That strategic position takes four approaches. Or, you can view the place as being built on solid ground with four solid beams.
The FORT and its four pillars can create a solid foundation and strategic plan to lead. So, remember FORT: Focus, Organize, Research and Time Management
F – Focus on the plan at hand. Every leader should have goals for himself as a leader and for the organization. In order to achieve the goals, you have to focus. Do you have daily agendas, short and long-term goals? Do you have strategies in place to achieve the tasks at hand? Lists, calendars and agendas help people stay focused.
O – Organizational skills help the leader stay focused. Your notes, briefcase, office, car, departments – all need to be organized and in order. Clean environments offer clarity of mind. Often people clear their desks of every other thing other than the project they are working on. This is part of being organized and focused.
R – Research helps you find the information you need. You don’t know what you don’t know sometimes. I had a client who wanted to start a service business and throughout a coaching session, repeatedly said, I don’t know how to do that. I asked, what can you do to find out or learn how to start a business. Leaders research. They look for answers. This is a skill I picked up as a journalist – search for facts – find information.