It’s been said that managers do things right and leaders do the right things. The former is about efficiency the latter is about effectiveness.
It is easy to be busy but hard to work on the right things.
Leaders must focus on doing the right things ó those things that matter most to the success of the company. Effective leaders must drive the focus of the organization and channel the time, talent, energy and resources on tackling key priorities and goals.
Owners must ask constantly, “What’s Important Now (WIN)?”
Owners need to rein in their employees’ focus. Don’t let employees waste energy, time, talent and resources on trivial matters; keep them focused on the company’s vision and its mission-critical priorities.
To help you manage the attention and concentration of your team, focus them on these primary areas:
– Focus on satisfying your customers: Your company’s primary focus should be squarely on exceeding the expectations of your customers/clients. Establish a culture whereby your team falls in love with your customers and their needs/wants and not your own company’s products or services
– Focus on getting results: Establish a climate where activity is not confused with accomplishment. Where actual results are valued more than busyness. Where effectiveness (doing the right things) is rewarded more than efficiency (doing things right). Insist on intelligent, meaningful action and detest procrastination and excuses.
– Focus on continual improvement: As CEO, you must drive out fear from your organization. If your company is not failing occasionally, either your goals are too low or your rate of innovation is too slow. Have your employees adopt the attitude that failure is not painful or shameful. Failure is merely valuable feedback on what not to do next time. Failure is fertilizer for future success. Failure is an incredible gift if properly viewed and used.
– Focus on profits: Next, focus on growing most importantly, your profits. Some only focus on revenue growth, which is ego-driven and not too smart. Cash flow and profits are your lifeblood. Keep your gross margins strong, focus everyone on profits.
– Focus on the long-term: After profits, focus everyone on the fact that you are in business for the long haul. Do not be short-term oriented. Business is a marathon, not a sprint. Do what is right, always. Maintain the highest integrity and ethics. Your reputation is everything.
– Focus on having fun: And lastly, focus on making business fun. Celebrate your company’s successes often and reward your employees for superior performance. Come up with any and all reasons to praise your team and recognize success. Make coming to work a meaningful and fulfilling event.
Never forget, often as important as a paycheck, good employees want to learn and grow, be challenged and rewarded and fulfill their cravings to be social beings. Make your culture an enjoyable place to work.
Focus, it should be the most important thing you work on this week!
Contact Mark Dipple at m.dipple@thegrowthcoach. com.