What you Focus on Grows

The following blog is part 8 of the series on “Moving from Hurried to Purposeful” from Darren Bosch of DeliberateU.

I can’t tell you how many well-intended, well-educated, well-healed leaders struggle to focus on what matters most. Instead, most, to some degree, run pell-mell attending to many different things that pull us from where we add the most value… increasing wear & tear along the way.  

Do you want to stop chasing the tail and start creating more ease…with a little more focus, fun, and freedom along the way?

DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH:

1. The strain of "too much to do with so little time"?
2. Frustration from endless "to-do" lists not getting done?
3. Running ragged & discouraged with your lack of self-care?
4. Not being able to serve those entrusted in your care the way you want to?

If you sense these may be true for you - or aren’t sure - I would urge you to Download our Hurry Sickness Assessment. It is not only well worth your while but could be a pivotal moment for you.

DO YOU LONG FOR:

1. The joy & energy back in what you do?
2. More capacity and resilience?
3. Less interruptions and “fires to put out”?
4. A refueling through your role?

If this rings true for you, I'm here to tell you that there is a way…

In my experience, focusing on what matters most keeps me on course to deliver better results with more ease – because it's where I bring the most value to others – and my purpose, passion, and energy increase. It reduces so much noise from low-value tasks.

It also provides ‘oxygen’, as it helps me serve others. As a servant leader, others get my best…and what I'm uniquely designed for. It keeps me on course to deliver better results with more ease because my clarity, purpose, passion, and energy increase. By reducing high-volume, low-value tasks, I move from hurried to purposeful. And that’s refueling oxygen!

This all happens because what we focus on always grows. 

So how can you have clarity and stay focused on what matters most?

1. Identify your purpose & key role(s)
2. Identify where you bring the most value to these roles
3. Schedule priorities based on those areas
4. Focus on your “Top 3*”
5. Calibrate: ask yourself -  “is this where I bring the most value?”

 * “Top-3” are your highest priorities. I ask myself, “if I only had a few hours left this week, what do I need to focus on, according to my purpose & roles?”

In moving from “Hurried to Purposeful” we’ve developed a model here at DeliberateU to visually paint a picture…along with some practical tools for help! Let me explain.  

“There once was a business leader who lived in four quadrants”…

QUADRANT 4: DAILY WHIRLWIND

High Value, High Urgency

This is where we get pulled into the most. The endless juggling act of “putting out fires”, dealing with pressing tasks, or last-minute things. They are important and often pressing. That’s why they press and pull so acutely.

Solution: Manage it!

1. Grow your team to deal with these tasks
2. Develop a Firefighting SOP (so others know how to respond)
3. Anticipate & plan for the “watch-outs” or expected “what ifs”

QUADRANT 3: DECEPTIVE BUSYNESS

Low Value, High Urgency

This is the snake-pit of lots of activity. The popular stuff. Things that fall into this quadrant are: always checking and responding to email, dealing with other interruptions, or ineffective lengthy meetings. Always jumping to the ‘ping’ of your Smartphone. You get the picture.

Solution: Reduce it!

1. Be aware. Assess its' negative impact.
2. Right-size for “progress, not perfection"

QUADRANT 2: ESCAPING AVOIDANCE

Low Value, Low Urgency

This is wasteful, trivial avoidance...mindlessly checking out because we need to “feel better”. This is a place where we get no healthy deposits or input. Note: this area is not to be confused with healthy “down-time” that refuels.

Solution: Limit it!

1. Make it purposeful so it adds value.
2. Find the root cause of your escapism
3. Discover rhythms here to restore & refuel

QUADRANT 1: WHAT MATTERS MOST

High Value, Low Urgency

The areas that give us oxygen and fulfillment – where we bring the highest value and are on purpose for what we're uniquely designed for. The things only we/you can do.

Things that fall into this quadrant are: acting on your key priorities, focusing on growth, investing in key relationships, and living out your God-given roles intentionally. It is here that you're focussed, clear, and have “flow”. You will be refueled here because you are purposeful.

Solution: Focus on it!

1. Clarify your purpose & role
2. Identity where you bring the most value/impact
3. Schedule key priorities
4. Protect by Managing Q4, Reducing Q3, Limiting Q2
5. Focus on your weekly “Top 3”

So what happens when we start to move from “Hurried to Purposeful”?

 THE IMPACT:

• Others get high-value
• Others get your best
• Others get what you're designed for
• You have more clarity and you're less stretched
• You have more energy, capacity & joy
• You have more fulfillment in your calling

THE FRUIT:

• Enjoy showing up better at work and home
• Enjoy doing what you're uniquely made for, where you serve others best
• Enjoy meaningful relationships, because “date nights” are built into your schedule.
• Enjoy more inner peace and resilience because you've allocated and protected space for self-care and connection time
• Enjoy more “headspace”, because you're proactively intentional…and not always reacting.

Deliberate Application:

Download our free PDF Worksheet & Action Plan

1. What Quadrant am I in most? How is this impacting me?
2. What would the impact be if I implemented some of the “solutions” listed above?
3. What action step will I start working on this coming week?
4. Who do I know that may be close to burning out in this pandemic? Will I share this gift with them?