Overcoming Barriers Through Functioning at the Highest Level

Dr. Henry Cloud's Leadership University Podcast series features an episode that describes three tasks required to function at the highest level.  In support of this approach, Dr. Cloud and team interview Jessie Itzler and cover examples from his life as an entrepreneur, author, and a current owner of the Atlanta Hawks.  Building on the three keys from Dr. Cloud, I have provided some related facts and reflective questions.

1.  Attend to the Relevant – What specific and highly impactful tasked are planned for completion today?

• It can be difficult to select a key action but our goals and plans are a good place to start.
• This work can be focused intellectual problem solving or relationship oriented (e.g., crucial conversations)
• Research shows we are challenged to hold our focus for longer than just over 50 minutes. Given that, we need to seek out 50-minute blocks and devote that time to the relevant issues that need our attention. Research source: The Atlantic. 
• Are you identifying, and reserving time to concentrate, on the things that really matter?

2.   Inhibit the Irrelevant – What will be done today to manage distractions?

• Email, social media, environmental variables can draw our attention away from what matters.
• Distractions cost us: Gloria Mark, of the University of California, completed research that shows it takes an average of 25 minutes to return to the task at hand after distraction. Research source: Gloria Mark
• Step one is awareness: knowing what is likely to distract you from the relevant.
• Step two is taking action to inhibit the irrelevant. Put away the phone. Find a location that affords concentration. Block your calendar, etc.
• Are you recognizing the cost of distractions during your day? Have you found ways to inhibit those distractions?

3. Keep Focus Areas Ever Present – What will keep vision & purpose front and center?

• The business person who has had the most influence on my professional principles kept index cards in his shirt pocket with the short list of things that were essential to delivering the division strategy and plan. 
• Others have success with post-it notes on mirrors, the dash of a car, the edge of a computer monitor. Those visuals can serve as a catalyst for reminding yourself and others what matters most. Find ways to keep the reminders fresh so you don’t take them for granted.
• Have you summarized and posted what matters most and/or why you are on your mission?

If any of the above three have created a “Cause to pause”, I’d encourage you to consider what tools you might use to help improve your performance or the performance of your company.  I offer 1:1 consulting, pragmatic plans, help on completing key projects and offer ways to collaborate.  See my website:  www.strategicstepsllc.com Those services and tools can play a part in achieving progress in any of areas noted by Dr. Cloud.

Try this:  To keep things fresh, I've created a spot on the Strategic Steps LLC website where you can confidentially share your view of how you are doing in these three areas.  Your views will be combined with responses from other to provide you greater context.  Share your view. 

Credit:  Jesse Itzler  The Leader’s Attention – When to Say No and Know When to Commit – #014 Lead U