Let us begin with a dictionary definition of effective:

: producing a result that is wanted : having an intended effect ¹

I prefer to think about effective in terms of effecting change. In an organization, if you are not effecting change then you are by definition being ineffective: and if you are being ineffective then you are not doing your job.

I have more respect for someone who is effectively doing the wrong thing, that is to say they are misguided, then someone who is ineffectively doing nothing.

Let me share with you a final thought from Senior Grand Master Ed Parker ²:

There are three types of people in this world, those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who ask “what happened?” ³

Effective people make it happen.

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