Stepping out the door, you glance across the parking lot in the general direction of your car. A quick check of the time shows 2:27 p.m. You need to be on the road by 2:30 to reach your destination on time. You’ve got 3 minutes to make it to the car and get going. A few minutes later, right at 2:30, you slip into your driver’s seat. This may be the least interesting part of your day, but it’s a pretty good metaphor for management.
Your walk begins with a command from the top. Your own personal executive office—your conscious mind—makes the decision to arrive at the car in 3 minutes. This comes down your chain of command as direction and pace: an approximation of where you think the car is and how fast you should walk.
