A word I’ve heard from executives over the past year as well as one that fascinates those who study change is focus. We are living in a constant state of change. Just the time when focusing on your long-game will make the difference between success and regret.
Though I’m a big fan of focus, I don’t believe in forcing yourself to do anything. It takes intention, not just brute discipline. Jim Collins explains it this way: “Discipline by itself will not produce great results. We find plenty of organizations in history that had tremendous discipline and that marched right into disaster, with precision and in nicely formed lines. No, the point is to first get self-disciplined people who engage in very rigorous thinking, who then take disciplined action.”
To be a self-disciplined person begin with focused self-reflection. That could even mean scheduling “think time” on your calendar. Then increase your rigorous thinking by intentionally challenging yourself to look at possibilities in new and imaginative ways. Use disciplined action toward your best effort at work. Build in refresh time to develop your strengths and interests in order to increase your focused follow-through.
The ideal state for overcoming uncertainty and making even small steps forward is when your passion and expertise are aligned, you’re self-motivated with an inner drive to produce best results, and you have energy to create on your own or with your team.
When you need to beat the feelings of overwhelm, create times to focus on activities that build your resilience and aren’t dependent on external factors you can’t control. I call this green space. A very personal time that’s just for you. I happen to love running outdoors where my mind is open to not only fresh air, but also fresh ways to reflect on the events of the day or even ponder with abandon. The same can be said for a lunch with a trusted advisor or happy hour with a favorite client or buddy. Powerful resilience habits that help me find better thinking and focus throughout my weeks.
