Focus and Eliminating The Noise

From Admired Leaders on Focus:

Where we focus our attention significantly shapes our experience. Focus is a limited resource. Our perceptions and experiences are largely dictated by what we choose to pay attention to and focus on.

People achieve more when they focus on where they want to go and not on the noise that surrounds them. Both short- and long-term goals benefit from this forward focus.

Losing focus on the prize is what derails accomplishment and success. Distractions impede progress. While it is not always possible to block out the peripheral noise, the better we do at concentrating on the endpoint, the more we achieve.

Our actions follow our attention and focus.

When we concentrate on where we want to go and not on the obstacles and traps along the route, we unconsciously align our behaviors to move us forward and toward that goal.

We begin to see opportunities that might help us in our journey. Our heightened awareness reinforces the need to zero in on the details and milestones critical to success. Good things begin to happen.

As the impact of distractions lessens, our confidence rises. With a narrow scope aimed at a specific target, our execution becomes more fluid. With each passing milestone, the momentum of success builds and increases our commitment. All because we refused to direct our attention to anywhere else but on the end goal.

Focusing forward is a skill and a discipline, and the most productive and highly accomplished performers and leaders have mastered it.

The question for coaches is how do you teach your team to focus? How do you lessen the distractions?

I don’t think it’s productive to simply say “eliminate the noise” and ignore the distractions. The noise is there. The distractions are real. Trying to ignore them doesn’t allow you to address the impact they might be having on your team. I think it’s important that you talk about them with your team. You connect on the impact that outside influences can have if you let them. And then you talk about how to deal with them.

Every team has to deal with outside noise and distractions. Not dealing with them will not be productive. Address the situation directly. You won’t be able to eliminate the noise, but you can minimize the impact.