FIVE IDEAS TO STAY FOCUSED ON

THE BIG PICTURE

When I was President–Elect of the United States Junior Chamber, a few months ago, I attended a World Congress that was administered by the Junior Chamber International, which is our parent company, a 200,000 person membership based organization, and as I progressed from one event to another I found myself mesmerized in what each representative leader had to say. And, today, as I reflect back on their lectures, I start to FOCUS my attention on what, I feel, each of their purposes/intents might have been about. Although, I am fascinated by their purposes/intents, that is for another article and is irrelevant for the time or place. The word that is relevant for such a moment, that leaders must be aware of, is the word FOCUS.

FOCUS. A powerful five letter word, that leaders must provide their people, yet at times, seems to get easily lost in this world due to all the distractions that surround each and everyone of us. Some leaders go as far as to be FOCUSed on so many small items that the BIG picture gets clouded or overlooked. As a Physical Therapist, I find that many stroke patients become frustrated and develop negative attitudes because they FOCUS on the things that they CAN’T accomplish, instead of what they HAVE accomplished in therapy sessions. They become so obsessed with wanting to walk again, that they lose FOCUS on the fact that they CAN sit in a chair again without falling to one side or the other.

So, in the philosophy of “A New Brand of Leadership” I would like to define the word FOCUS and provide FIVE suggestions for leaders today, and the future, to FOCUS on while they are continuing to build STRONG CHAPTERS & DEVELOPING STRONG LEADERS.

Notice I have used the word FOCUS many time because, FOCUS, can be clearly defined two ways:

1. It can be defined as to produce a clear image of an object by adjustment of a lens or other optical equipment, or simply put, to adjust, to produce a clear image.

2. It can be defined as to concentrate, to converge at a point of focus; be focused.

Here are five helpful suggestions that leaders around the world use to ensure success in achieving and accomplishing their FOCUS:

F - Figure out the items that you have direct, indirect, and no control over

O – Optimize opportunity on the items that need the most time and energy

C – Concentrate on the items that are most important and diligently work on them

U – Utilize everyone on the team strategically, to create a cohesive unit for a common goal

S – Simplify the ways and means, don’t complicate matters; Just solutions

Being a leader is difficult enough with all the responsibilities that come with the title. At times a leader may feel they are being pulled in many directions. However, if they can learn to stay FOCUSed on their purpose/intent, teach the others to stay FOCUS, and stay between the lines, not off on tangents, and learn to apply these suggestions in every venture they set out, SUCCESS is the only outcome.