FOCUS

In January it is common to be considering possibilities for achieving better results this year than last year.  As we’ve discussed here many times before, results are produced by a combination of skills and action so to get better results either better skills or more actions are necessary.  New skills and behaviors generally require time to develop; however, leveraging existing skills and actions can be accelerated to produce amazing results more quickly.  It is done by focusing actions toward one specific result and eliminating or at least reducing distractions that interfere.  In other words having a goal that is your focus and then to actually focus your attention and effort on it.  Doing that for a day can be difficult; doing it for a year is rare but those who can do it are the ones who achieve success.   If you want more focus in 2014 it may be helpful to keep in mind its definition as both a noun (a main purpose or interest) and a verb (to direct your attention or effort at something specific).

The two keys to being able to maintain your focus are it cannot not be a detriment to other important aspects of work or life but at the same time it is vitally important to you.  Most often people fail to maintain focus because the end result is not significantly energizing and other good ideas, daily routines, or suggestions/requests from other people, become distractions.  Avoiding such disruptions requires another aspect of focus; adjustment or re-focusing.  Other people and the rest of the world will not remain in place while we do our thing.  To achieve the end result of a yearlong goal we will need to repeatedly focus and refocus on our focus.

Whatever your focus is in 2014, we wish you great success!

The Magic Formula for Success

A common question coaches pose to a client is ‘what would you do if you couldn’t fail?’ It helps the client identify dreams and aspirations that are limited by fear of failure. It can be freeing to think of a risk free venture; it opens up new possibilities when confidence is at a high level. However, another way of considering that question is in the context of high risk. If the stakes are so high to have life threatening consequences you would be acutely aware and deliberate to take necessary action.

As we all look forward to a new year and plans for business and personal success it may be helpful to consider ‘what will I do in 2014 if I can’t fail?’  Applying both aspects – high confidence and deliberate actions – is the magic formula for success. We wish you the best for the holidays and the new year!

Will You Reach Your Goals?

We all have goals, dreams and aspirations that we work to achieve. The probability of realizing them is largely dependent on the regularity and frequency of our actions along with our level of skill in performing those actions. However, the right strategies and tactics are also vital to success. If a hammer is your only tool you will be a great success at nailing but not so much at cutting and trimming. When obstacles or challenges interfere with our progress toward our goals we naturally shift tactics and use different tools.

Sometimes however there are opportunities or new tools to help us reach our goal but unlike obstacles and challenges, we may over look these opportunities. Adapting to new possibilities and quickly capturing new opportunities is a big differentiator of great from average. 

In our era of rapid technology advancement deploying the right new technology at the right time can be a huge opportunity requiring – you guessed it – skill and action. To help you know about some of the productivity related technology opportunities available a new series begins with this article.

Average Versus Exceptional

A couple of weeks ago three winning tickets split a $448,400,000 Powerball jackpot. Those three had a very exceptional return on their $2.00 investments!  Millions of others had no return on their ‘investments’.  In games of chance luck is of course the differentiator between average and exceptional results.

In most of life, exceptional results are derived from exceptional actions. Average effort usually produces average outcomes yet many people dream of success far above their average activities. They want the joy and satisfaction of exceptional results but at the same time resist taking exceptional risks and working exceptionally hard.

Results are always derived from a combination of capability and action. High capability coupled with low action will produce low results similar to low capability coupled with high action.   Exceptional results however will be produced when high capability is matched with high levels of action. That may be common knowledge but it is not common practice. Coaching helps change behavior and helps create exceptional action and results. Just ask!

Managing What You Can’t Measure

When we talk with leaders about improving performance there is often initial skepticism.  After all they have typically been leading their organization for several years and they ‘know’ what to do.  In fact they may actually be successful in several tangible ways.  However, with several minutes of open conversation there is usually some source of frustration that comes to light.  It often is something they haven’t been able to change because they have not figured out how to measure it.  If they have data it is most often a lag measure rather than the lead measures which predict the end results and can be influenced by actions of one or more employees.  It is not always easy to do but most every aspect of business can be measured and when it is results tend to improve.  Contact us and we'll show you how it can be done.

Extraordinary Politeness

During the early stages of the first Gulf War the US Army experienced a recurring cycle of declining morale.  It would gradually improve and then decline again about every three weeks.  After several unsuccessful interventions they finally found a solution – extraordinary politeness.  In addition to adhering to standard military courtesies they found that by having servers in the mess hall provide extraordinary service and attention to soldiers as they went through the serving line the morale increased and the cycle of declines was broken.  By interacting politely with focused attention on each individual and their specific preferences among the available choices they significantly reduced complaints and irritations about food.  Although everyone was not 100% satisfied, most people had a positive experience and did not join in to create a growing chorus of complaints when someone expressed dissatisfaction.   The real success however was that breaking those negative attitudes went beyond the mess hall to their regular duties.  If attitudes did turn negative, three times a day there was a positive experience of service and politeness to counteract it.

Fortunately most of us are not in a war zone.  Yet complaints about the boss, employees, customers, vendors, co-workers, the government, the economy or other unpleasant situations can dominate conversations and create a cultural climate of low morale and disengagement.  Whether we are leaders of an army, a large corporation, a small business, head of a household or simply a member of a work team or informal social group we can change a negative climate by consciously being extraordinarily polite to those around us;  not complaining; and not joining in when we hear others complaining.  We encourage you to try it for three weeks at least three times a day and then let us know what you experienced.  We look forward to getting your feedback!

There is Only One Letter Difference Between Networking and Not Working

Business Networking has delivered more return on investment than any other business building tool. Both financially and in non-monetary terms, networking has proven to deliver exceptional value to any business new or established.

Did you know?

 

Networking is the number one recommended business building tactic guaranteed to boost business growth.

 

Business Networking will…

 

Attract new customers by building your profile, facilitating connections, and showcasing your products and services…

 

After all …..

 

People do business with those they know and trust. What better way is there to develop these types of strong business connections?

 

Bottom Line….

 

It works!

 

Critical to YOUR success and the success of your BUSINESS is BUSINESS NETWORKING!

 

The Peak Pathways Omaha Leads Club is designed to help YOU do just this!  We meet every Monday at noon.  If you are in the Omaha area and would like to visit the club to see if it is a fit for you please let one of us know or send an e-mail.