“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey
Are you finding yourself overwhelmed as you step into the new year, juggling business responsibilities and personal commitments? If so, you might be overlooking the power of effective leadership, a tool that can help you overcome challenges and foster growth.
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
For many business owners, the refrain of “so much to do, so little time” is a constant echo. Balancing the demands of customers, employees, vendors, and personal life can threaten to derail even the most well-intentioned resolutions. Here’s a guide to help you harness the art of leverage during times of high demand, enabling you to navigate these challenging waters more effectively.
1. Share the Burden: Are you carrying the weight of your business alone? It’s time to redefine expectations. Communicate clearly what you need from your team and underscore the mutual benefits of collaboration. If certain team members aren’t contributing as expected, consider reevaluating their fit within your organization.
2. Embrace Directness: Wasting time on vague conversations? Cut to the chase. Encourage straightforward communication, preserving respect while focusing on core issues. Additionally, consider standing during meetings to promote quicker discussions.
3. Inspire and Challenge: Different individuals require different motivations. Some thrive on a vision of possibilities, while others need a wake-up call to realize their potential. Employ both strategies to engage your team and foster ownership.
4. Prioritize Purposefully: Do you often feel lost in the sea of tasks? Take a moment to list your top ten priorities, both in business and personal realms. Every day, focus on advancing the two most critical ones. You’ll be amazed by how this approach streamlines your efforts.
5. Institute Consistency: Repetitive issues? It’s a sign of insufficient understanding or inconsistent practices. Address recurring problems by establishing standardized procedures and systems, creating a foundation for smoother operations.
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6. Embrace Your Strengths: Are you handling tasks that don’t align with your expertise? Effective leaders delegate responsibilities that others can perform better. Free up your time to concentrate on what you excel at while ensuring a system of accountability.
7. Pause for Reflection: Constantly reacting to immediate demands leaves little room for strategic thinking. Just as a sports team takes timeouts, allocate time to regroup, reassess, and strategize. This pause empowers you to tackle challenges with heightened insight and vigor.
By embracing these strategies, you can alleviate the burden of overwhelm. Remember, it requires conscious effort to slow down, but the rewards are worth it—a more impactful and efficient business and professional journey.
Bob Norton is a long-time Serial Entrepreneur, CEO and investor who founded six companies with four exits that returned over $1 billion to investors for a 25X ROI. Two others are still in development. He has trained, consulted and advised thousands of Entrepreneurs, CEOs and boards since 2002. Mr. Norton works with companies to 2X to 10X growth rates and valuation using AirTight Management™, the world’s most comprehensive Leadership Operating System. He also helps companies raise capital to fund growth. He is also the Founder of The CEO Boot Camp™ and Entrepreneurship University™ for early-stage companies that have not reached product-market fit and $1M ARR.
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