Focus As Decision Criteria

We are bombarded with offers and opportunities to spend our time, money, energy and focus all day long. To have to make all these choices can be exhausting. Once you decide on your areas of focus they will act as decision criteria for you. Your focus can tell you if any opportunity is inside or outside. Identify and develop your focus areas and use your focus to make yes/no decisions. When you learn to use your focus to inform your decisions, decision making will be easier and faster.

Remain Teachable

Things change so fast in our world today and as a consequence the half-life of our knowledge and skill get shorter. Remaining teachable is a prerequisite to learning anything new. It is so easy for individuals and organizations alike to get set in their ways as they grow older. Make it a habit to expose yourself and the team to new ideas. Read outside your field. Meet with interesting people and have a forum to collect and try new ideas out.

Don't Be An Energy Drainer

Only speak about your problems to the people who can help you fix them. Don't volunteer your misfortunes unnecessarily. Don't invite friends to come to your pity parties. I like the old advice; "Don't speak about your sicknesses, unless you are talking to your Doctor." When you are among other people; be positive and cheerful. Be a person who others like to be around and become an energy gainer, not an energy drainer.

Questions Are Better Than Propositions

To successfully influence another person you often need to advance some ideas for a person's consideration. Research shows that the best way to do this is to phrase your ideas as questions to the other person, not as propositions. When you propose an idea, the likelihood of agreement is only 25% and the risk of getting an objection is 39%. When you use questions instead the likelihood of agreement jumps to 42% and objections are cut in half.

Taking The First Step

Often in life, the biggest fear to overcome is taking the first step. Leaders make the first move, and in doing so, they inspire others to act. By initiating action, leaders serve as pioneers, paving the trail for others to walk after them. Tacitus, the first century Roman Empire senator and historian said; "The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise." What trail are you paving for your people?

Focus On What You Have

When you focus on what you have, you end up getting more of what you want. If you focus on the good qualities of your spouse, he/she will be more loving. If you are grateful for your job rather than complaining about it, you’ll do a better job, be more productive, and probably end up getting a raise. If you focus on ways to enjoy yourself around home rather than waiting to enjoy yourself in Hawaii, you’ll end up having more fun. If you ever do get to Hawaii, you’ll be in the habit of enjoying yourself.

Prepare And Plan Ahead

Organization skill is at the heart of value creation. Your ability to organize your own activity as well as that of your team is vital since value is created through the organization of skilled labor. The value you create is in direct proportion to how well you prepare and plan ahead. There are many tools and techniques available at your disposal. Figure out ways you can strenghten your organization skills.