Recently I ran across a fascinating management strategy: Promote the lazy.

Back in the late 1800s, there was a brilliant German general named Helmuth von Moltke who was in charge of personnel for the German army. Famous for his brand of austere discipline, you would expect him to promote people with the same driven nature. Instead, Moltke took a different approach.

He divided the German officer corps into four categories:

1. Mentally dull and physically lazy.
2. Mentally bright and physically energetic.
3. Mentally dull and physically energetic.
4. Bright and lazy.

The first group (lazy dullards) were given simple, repetitive, unchallenging tasks.

You would assume that the second group (bright and energetic) would be the cream of the crop. However Moltke viewed these officers as obsessive micromanagers which led them to be poor leaders. He never promoted this type to a commanding officer level.

Group three (busy dullards) was considered the most dangerous. Moltke viewed them as nothing more than mistake generators needing constant supervision. These officers caused so many problems, many were simply dismissed.

The last group (bright and lazy) contained those officers Molke promoted to the highest levels of the German military. Why did he want lazy people in charge? Moltke determined that this group is smart enough to see what needs to be done but lazy enough to find the easiest, most direct way to succeed. And of course such an person won't get mired in the details, but will delegate those chores to his staff. Better yet, he would rather take a long lunch than micromanage his subordinates.

Reading this story reminded me of a great conservative political principle from President Calvin Coolidge: "When you see ten problems rolling down the road, if you don't do anything, nine of them will roll into a ditch before they get to you."

Instead of spending your time chasing after every perceived issue, spend your time identifying the one that actually matters. That way you can quickly address it, then get back to your hammock.