With so many things vying for our attention on a daily basis, it’s no wonder why we can get distracted from what matters. This applies in so many ways, such as understanding KPIs and working out plans to improve them, to helping our team members through struggles they face, to profitability issues, to customer service levels and feedback—think Google reviews—to so many more items that I could likely fill the column with listing just as the content.
That’s why one of the most important things we work to develop in our clients is the ability to slow down to speed up. You may have heard it before but what does it really mean and how can you develop a healthy usage of the practice?
To us it means recalibrating our thinking, not letting the frantic nature that surrounds us in business take over to the point that we find ourselves in a reactionary mode. The temptation is great and there is another axiom we should be mindful of: cooler heads prevail. Or, to use an abbreviated version of Rudyard Kipling’s turn of phrase: If you can keep your head when those about you are losing theirs, then you will be able to succeed.
This boils down to defining what matters, then doggedly pursuing and constantly evaluating your success in achieving these goals. The definition for some is the greatest challenge because their attention is so scattered. Hence, we have the first example of slowing down so we can speed up. You must take the time to list the things vying for your attention then prioritize that list in alignment with what truly matters to you.
This process is the same for all of us even though the answers will likely be unique to the individual. That’s another good reason why we next need to slow down and explain our vision to the others we work with. We all have a vision. Few take the time to articulate that vision and even fewer take the time to explain it to others and even fewer still take the time to create support from teammates by securing “buy-in” or in business-speak, engagement! For those that do take the time to execute these actions, the rewards are enormous!
Keep it simple in this step-by-step approach:
1. List the tings vying for your attention
2. Prioritize the list in alignment with what matters to you
3. Articulate the vision by writing it down in a way that others can understand
4. Engage with your team members and explain the details of the vision
5. Ask for their support in making it come into being
I have outlined a lot of work that will take time. It is only by taking this time—slowing down—and working on what matters in an organized approach that will help you succeed—speed up—and be the one who’s driving!
