Legionaries followed a strict daily routine set by their commander to maintain order in the Castra (camp), keep the army battle ready, and enforce discipline. There were three key elements to the daily routine; hygiene activities, exercise, and training. This routine ensured that all soldiers were ready for now, next, and later.
Hygiene activities included the things needed to keep the camp and the legionaries’ bodies and lives functioning on a day-to-day basis, like allocated chores, eating and sleeping; the ‘now’. Exercise kept the soldiers fit and ready to execute campaigns for tomorrow; the ‘next’. These two things contribute to maintenance of the status quo – the minimum required to keep a place on the team. However to be a truly great army, the team needed to do more than just maintain current state. They needed to be prepared for the future and the unexpected; the ‘later’.
Legion commanders recognised the need to increase the skill level of their people to improve both their ability and agility. Soldiers trained every day in full armour in different terrains and times to give them an edge over those that didn’t work hard to improve their skills.
It was important to do all three of these activities every day to build habit and discipline, keeping each soldier in the best condition for great performance, now, next, and later.
The same requirement for set routines can help make businesses more effective and efficient, for the now, next, and later. There are hygiene, exercise, and training activities that will deliver just that. Hygiene activities make sure you’re looking after the here and now and that you’ve got a clean house. These activities might include servicing customers, maintaining websites, or making sure you’ve got enough stock.
Exercise helps you keep fit to stay in the game and gives you a ticket to play – keeping up with trends so you can offer new products or services that help you stay relevant.
The third level of routine is training for ‘later’, helping you get stronger and keep an eye on the broader view. These activities might include developing an understanding of and capabilities in emerging technologies, markets, or other arenas.
So what:
- Does your organisation’s routine include hygiene, exercise, and training; all three levels of activity?
- If not, identify what’s missing and introduce some small steps to help you be ready for now, next, and later.
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