Today, I want to share the story of Sandy Miller, General Manager of Arnason Industries in Winnipeg. Sandy’s journey is a masterclass in how to systematically move from being the Chief Firefighter to a Strategic Leader. The Challenge: The Expert in the Middle Arnason Industries does specialized, high-stakes work: building critical infrastructure like roads and water treatment plants in Indigenous communities in northern Manitoba and western Ontario. When Sandy took the helm, the company was heavily dependent on a few key technical people. Sandy was the ultimate hub. With years of experience, he was personally involved in everything from scoping and bidding to overseeing site supervisors and equipment logistics. He knew that if one key person left, projects could be really impacted. His vision was to build an organization that could thrive long beyond his tenure, an organized system that didn't depend on any one person. But he was buried in the sand. To get out, he had to build a leadership team from scratch while simultaneously getting projects and keeping them moving. The Four Pillars in Action Sandy didn't try to change everything overnight. Instead, we worked through a disciplined process to build a solid foundation:
The "Aha!" Moment: Choosing Not to Step In The true test of Sandy’s transformation came recently. When a key site supervisor couldn’t make the transition to live up to the company’s core values, Sandy made the tough call to remove him. In the past, Sandy would have jumped in to run those sites himself. He’s good at it, and it would have been the fastest fix. But Sandy realized that jumping back into the weeds would be a major setback. Instead, he stayed in the coaching seat. He empowered his project management leader to step up and handle the oversight, while Sandy supported him from the background. Sandy admitted it felt strange not to get involved. But it was also freeing. The Result: The Virtuous Cycle By staying out of the sand, Sandy created a virtuous cycle. He now has the bandwidth to:
If you are a prairie CEO who wants to grow a thriving company, team and life more quickly, more easily and with less stress and headache, please contact me here.
The following video refers to my previous 5 Minute Growth Tip video: As a CEO, are you stuck in the weeds?
For the process I use with clients to start to get out of the weeds, see my next 5 Minute Growth Tip. If you are a prairie CEO who wants to grow a thriving company, team and life more quickly, more easily and with less stress and headache, please contact me here.
The Fundamental Distinction: Rocks vs. Sand In the book, Synk builds on the classic Stephen Covey analogy but applies it specifically to the high-stakes world of small-to-mid-size companies.
As I mentioned in my previous post, the trap for most CEOs is that they become the chief problem solver for the sand, which leaves zero room for the rocks. Synk’s model argues that your job isn't just to manage the sand; it's to identify the rocks and ensure they get executed so that the sand eventually runs more efficiently on its own. 1. Execute the Rocks to Fix the Sand One of the most powerful insights from Synk’s book is that the Sand is often messy because the Rocks haven't been dealt with. If your leadership team is constantly firefighting (stuck in the sand), it’s usually because of a lack of systems or strategic clarity (missing rocks). By prioritizing a Rock, for example, implementing a Results Tracking System, a Monthly Operating Forecast or the Top Grading hiring system, you are literally changing the nature of your day-to-day operations, the sand. When you ensure these priorities for change get executed, you aren't adding more work to your own plate; you are building a filter that makes the sand flow smoother. This increases the efficiency of your leadership team because the Rocks have finally been implemented to create the infrastructure they need to succeed without you hovering over them. 2. Getting Your Leadership Team Aligned In my last tip, we talked about Alignment as the first pillar of getting out of the weeds. Synk takes this further by showing how the Rock & Sand model creates a shared language for the executive team. The model forces a CEO and their team to create shared clarity on the company’s Growth Roadmap (the term Synk uses for a One Page Strategic Plan). In the book, Synk emphasizes that alignment isn't about everyone liking each other; it’s about everyone agreeing on the company’s goals and priorities and on the critical rocks for the next 90 days. When your team is aligned on the company’s direction and rocks:
3. Executing More Efficiently The second pillar we covered in my last tip was Execution. Synk’s model provides the meeting rhythm and the predictable cadence that turn strategy into a team sport rather than a CEO burden. According to Synk, efficient execution happens when the team has visibility into issues before they become fires. By using the Rock & Sand framework to set quarterly targets and rocks, you create a system where the team holds each other accountable. This is the “proactive flywheel" I mentioned: as the team gets better at executing the rocks, the operational noise of the sand diminishes. This frees you, the CEO, to spend more and more of your time on high-level work, like better understanding your customers’ needs, researching your competition and strengthening your competitive advantage, instead of being dragged back into the weeds. Stop Firefighting, Start Leading If you feel like you’re buried in the sand, you aren't alone. But you are stuck in a catch-22. You feel like you don’t have time to build your team and organization because you’re too busy being involved in their work. The Rock & Sand model helps you focus more on what will make a difference: the rocks. It’s about building the systems that allow your team to achieve great results on their own.
If you are a prairie CEO who wants to grow a thriving company, team and life more quickly, more easily and with less stress and headache, please contact me here.
The following video refers to my previous 5 Minute Growth Tip video: As a CEO, are you stuck in the weeds?
In the next 5 Minute Growth Tip, I’ll share the story of one of the clients we’ve worked with in this area and others. If you are a prairie CEO who wants to grow a thriving company, team and life more quickly, more easily and with less stress and headache, please contact me here.
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