Keeping the right things right in front of your eyes
April 16, 2010
Contributed by mentor Holly G. Green, CEO, The Human Factor, Inc.
The great German writer Johann von Goethe once said, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” This is especially true for entrepreneurs and business owners trying to steer their companies through today’s chaotic markets.
Those who run small to mid-sized businesses wear many hats. From accounting to marketing to personnel, you have a hand in virtually every aspect of the business. With so many hats to wear and so many decisions to make, it can be easy to get sidetracked by those things that “matter least.” Too often, this happens simply because the little things are right in front of you, pushing more important matters aside.
Humans are very visual creatures, and are largely driven by that which is directly in front of us.
Because we pay attention to what we see, your business depends on keeping the right things in your immediate line of vision. Think about all the things that capture your attention during the course of a typical day. Whether it’s the distraction of your PDA or the hundreds of daily emails— now is the time to reevaluate what will be important a year from now and start putting the right things in front of you.
How do you know which are the right things?
First, get crystal clear on where your organization needs to go and what it needs to do to get there. Close your eyes and imagine what it looks like when you get to where you want to go. Now write it down. Then consider what big steps you have to take to get there. Write down the big steps and how you will know if you are making progress.
Next, define what winning looks like for your organization and what it will look like when you get there. Communicate your definition of winning to employees over and over again until everyone in the organization knows it and then communicate it again. This will keep the organization focused on moving in the right direction.
To keep the right things in front of you, pause for a few minutes and plan out your time for the week ahead. Segment it into separate activity blocks, such as collecting data on strategy X, hands-on work on initiative Y, feedback sessions, customer meetings, communication events, etc. Really think about where you are spending your time and how much of it correlates to actually achieving your strategy.
Review the percentage of time you allocate to each activity block and ask: Does this align with getting us to our destination? Am I ignoring or missing critical areas? Are there areas taking up too much of my time for the anticipated return? Of what I am doing right now, what is really going to make a difference in our success?
The power of suggestion is real, so make sure your clear goals or objectives are visible to you most of your day. Put them on your computer screen, carry them in your notebook, set up task reminders to ping you, write them on your whiteboard, post them in the lobby of your office, on a mirror at home… Do whatever works for you to stage your field of vision and set yourself up for success.
This does not mean you should ignore email or other ‘urgent’ matters, but rather that you begin to balance your time based on significance. We are constantly getting pulled away from the valuable, vital, and important tasks (that may require a few moments of quiet to think or ponder possibilities) by all the chatter going on around us. And everyone knows there is more chatter today than ever before.
Especially as we continue through tough economic times, pause for a few seconds every day and ask yourself: “Of all the things I do today, what will have an impact a year from now? Have I let the things which matter less stop me from doing what matters most?”
Now, more than ever, it is critical to carve out time to focus on the right things. Tough times tend to divert our energies even more than in good times. We begin considering more possibilities out of fear, but this is exactly the opposite of what will serve you well.
Focus your energies. Make real progress on key activities or initiatives. Surround yourself visually with what is important. You’ll be amazed at how much of the chatter requires none of your attention if you just leave it alone and focus.
Holly G. Green
As CEO and Managing Director of The Human Factor, Inc. (www.TheHumanFactor.biz), Holly helps business leaders and their companies achieve higher levels of performance and profitability. Her unique approach to consulting – based on the approach Pause, Think, Focus, Run - provides the tools, techniques, and skills companies need to reach their destinations and achieve their strategic goals. Holly is an acclaimed speaker, author, consultant, and columnist. Her top selling book, More Than a Minute, how to be an effective leader and manager in today’s changing world, is available in five languages globally.
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Once again Holly hits the nail on the head with her comments.
Comment by Tom Dorosewicz — April 27, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
Thank you Holly! It’s so easy to get distracted. Especially in this environment where expectations are often set for instant feedback and gratification and we feel compelled to comply. The problem is we still haven’t figured out how to add more hours to our day. So we need to prioritize more than ever. I will share your blog with my clients. Sometimes a little reminder about sticking to what matters most is needed.
Comment by Cynthia Guiang — May 4, 2010 @ 9:38 pm
Thank you Holly! It’s so easy to get distracted. Especially in this environment where expectations are often set for instant feedback and gratification and we feel compelled to comply. The problem is we still haven’t figured out how to add more hours to our day. So we need to prioritize more than ever. I will share your blog with my clients. Sometimes a little reminder about sticking to what matters most is needed.
Comment by Emily — June 3, 2010 @ 2:14 am
Once again Holly hits the nail on the head with her comments.
Comment by Amy — June 5, 2010 @ 10:39 pm