Finding your focus
Two days I called for more focus in order to achieve results. Only when you focus do you have enough strength to drive in the direction you want to go. Focus helps you persevere, maintain motivation and make quick decisions.
I have left open the question of how to find focus. It's a question that requires judgment. If you push topic A, there is less room to push topic B and C.
But how do you know if topic A is fruitful and will have the greatest impact? How do you know that topic A is feasible? How do you know that the assumptions that must be true are as true as you imagine them to be?
The answer is: you can't, there is always a certain amount of risk.
But you can minimize the risks or find the issue with the greatest impact. Here are some ideas:
1. Tap into the wisdom of the crowd
Get input and feedback from several people who you trust to have your best interests at heart. Get perspectives from different angles. And then make a decision.
2. Use familiar models
In workshops, I like to use familiar models like the Porter Five Forces, the Value Chain, the Business Model Canvas or the 7S... to evaluate the different areas with the biggest challenges or the biggest opportunities. This gets the discussion going on the different topics. You may find the biggest issue you can tackle that has the biggest impact.
3. Ask questions
Take three minutes and write down questions (no answers, no explanations, no justifications) about the topic of focus. Do this with questions only. You will experience that one question leads to the next and you will have variations in your questioning as you may ask counter questions or HOW or WHAT IF questions that open up new avenues for you.
4. Ask WHY a few times
Sometimes questioning #3 doesn't work so well. Especially if you've done it so many times before on the topic in question. Then try asking WHY a few times and get to the core. It's kind of like open heart surgery, but when you see it, you can then start asking WHAT IF or HOW questions.
5. If nothing works
In rare cases, your gut will tell you that you haven't found a satisfying center of gravity yet. This may be because you're already pretty focused. But you are still disappointed. This means you need to change your focus, which can come with a lot of risks. In this case, you may be able to find a new focus with a side-activity. Make it a priority to diversify your activities a bit and see what works and why. It's a bit counterintuitive, but it could be just the spark you need for a new adventure.
6. The last solution
Take a walk, or a break. Rely on the help of your subconscious. Creativity, new ideas and confidence often arise when you don't expect it. You don't know in advance when or how, but in most cases it will happen. Give it a day or two.
In larger organizations where employees strive for performance, they may have their own agenda when it comes to finding focus. In this case, it's still good to listen to everyone and work out the common ground. In most cases, an outside facilitator can help you walk through the chaos that comes with finding the focus. If it still looks like a rotten apple, the person at the helm has to decide. This is what this person is paid for.