Always take the time to deeply understand the system – this could be the organization or the process – you work on or with.
Too often, when we get into a new system or begin working with one, we’re keen to just “dig in” and get going. It takes deliberate effort to make sure we’re keeping our eyes open to the way things are, the reason things are the way they are, and the levers we have to create the outcomes we seek.
It takes deep thinking to understand this. It is easy to shortchange the process.
And yet, if we seek to be effective, it is the most important thing we do.
A Learning a Day 