Merry Maids # 372/373/458/946/947
J. R. Nichols Company, Inc.
Employee Training Program
Day 8 Script
4 Disciplines of Execution
Introduction
Success is based on having a plan, and executing that plan. Many organizations will have a plan,
and then when that plan is not successful will just change the plan. We have discovered that the execution
of the plan is more important to success than the nature of the plan. We have implemented the “4
Disciplines of Execution” Program which is based on the book and ask that every employee participate in
the 4DX Program.
Concept of the 4DX Program
Teamwork and personal responsibility are very important considerations in the 4DX Program.
The 4 Disciplines are intended to change personal behaviors so that we continually improve and hold
ourselves and our Team Mates accountable for the concept of continuous improvement. We will learn
new ways of accomplishing certain tasks, new terms, and new ways to keep score as we progress.
Discipline # 1 Focus on the Wildly Important Goal (WIG)
We each have many goals we want to accomplish, and our Company also has many goals to
achieve. We must focus and identify the most important goal. The Wildly Important Goal or WIG is the
one goal that will determine whether we win or lose.
The WIG we have selected for our company is the number of Type 1 and 2 Customers we are
serving. Type 1 is Weekly Service and Type 2 is Biweekly Service. Customers with lesser frequent
service are important, but the number of Weekly and Biweekly Customers will assist in achieving our
goals for the year.
The WIG is stated in a very specific format such as: We will increase our Type 1 and Type 2
Customers from XX to YY by a given date. This fixed date is how we hold ourselves accountable for
applying the resources needed to achieve the goal. Our current WIG is written on the Scoreboard so that
everyone is familiar with the WIG.
Discipline # 2 Act on the Lead Measures
There are two kinds of measures which give information as to our progress.
Lag Measures provide the information as to how the WIG is being achieved. Lag Measures are looking to
the past. They tell us whether the WIG was achieved. They are similar to reading the scores of yesterday’s
games in that they tell us about the past.
Lead Measures provide the information for the future, and tell us whether we are likely to achieve the
WIG. The Lead Measures must be Predictive in that they must tell us directly and lead to the outcome of
success. If the Lead Measures are achieved then the WIG may be achieved. The Lead Measures must also
be Influenceable by our efforts. There must be a direct effort effect and be controllable by us. If we do
not control the outcome then it cannot be a Lead Measure. The Lead Measures help us predict the future.
Discipline # 3 Keep a Compelling Scoreboard
This is the discipline that encourages participation because it shows the score! Can you imagine a
football game where there was no scoreboard? How soon would everyone lose interest? The scoreboard
must be in a common area and clearly show the following characteristics:
(1) The Goal we want to achieve,
(2) The score we have currently achieved,
(3) It must be easy to read,
(4) It must readily indicate “Winning” or “Loosing”,
(5) It must display Lead and Lag Measures.
The artistry of the Scoreboard must appear to everyone and encourage them to participate.
Discipline # 4 Create a Cadence of Accountability
The final step in the 4DX Program is the most important as it determines the degree to which we will
participate. Let’s define two important terms with this Discipline.
Cadence is a frequently recurring cycle of accounting for past performance and planning for future
actions. Cadence is the element that will keep us involved on a regular frequency.
Accountability is making a personal commitment to the Team to move the score forward and following
through in a disciplined way. We apply this concept to ourselves and to each member of the Team.
We will hold ourselves accountable through a series of WIG Meetings. The rules for WIG Meetings are:
(1) Conduct the meetings on the same day and same time each week,
(2) Focus the agenda on the WIG,
(3) Do not allow the Whirlwind, which is the business for the day, to interfere,
(4) Report on Commitments by each person attending,
(5) Review the Scoreboard and learn from successes and failures,
(6) Clear the Path as necessary, and
(7) Make new Commitments for the week.
Review the 4DX
The 4 Disciplines of Execution are:
(1) Focus on the Wildly Important Goal (WIG),
(2) Act on the Lead Measures,
(3) Keep a Compelling Scoreboard,
(4) Create a Cadence of Accountability.