Always in Pursuit: An Efficient Leader's Mindset

Adversity is inevitable, it makes us uncomfortable and it cannot be easily overcome or ignored by those going through it. In any setting, overcoming adversity leads to achievement. This achievement will only be reached if those chasing it are willing to take action. Oftentimes the road to achievement can be intimidating and tap into the instinct we have which is to let things take their course.

A good example is in those times when we are overwhelmed, we don’t exactly see a way through and perhaps want to just take a break. The issue here is that this will never solve the issues we face and will only prolong the time taken to get it done. Instead, we must be eager to take action and face the things we dread. Now, this is much easier said than done as this is fighting against the instinct we have to let things play out. 

Accomplishing often means there’s a trade-off, and that involves going through or doing something difficult. This difficulty is what’s intimidating, we are not programmed to naturally seek out difficult tasks. Instead, we have to build this instinct so that when faced with pressure it is the habit we go to. This is why we need to be aggressive in our problem-solving and opportunity seeking.

In a business environment, deals aren’t going to make themselves, protocols aren’t going to explain themselves, and employees aren’t going to train themselves. Now, it is important to realize that “being aggressive” does not mean letting emotions get involved. It is not an excuse for leaders to abuse power or be hard on team members. It is simply taking action when action is necessary and not sitting back when faced with pressure.

Let’s look at ways to do that:

Don’t Feel Sorry For Yourself

When things happen to you unexpectedly, be prepared to pivot and turn a negative situation into an opportunity for growth. To do this, you’ll always want to ensure you make connections with people in every area you’re going after. Let’s say you lose business with a major client, the first instinct you’ll have is doubt, followed by further negativity. Yet this is not going to solve the issue and is only taking up time.

Instead, say “okay, this happened but I didn’t come this far to come this far” then define your goal and go after it. If you know people in the industry, it could lead to an open door for new business. 

Leave Emotion Out

Aggression in executing a task simply means you refuse to be complacent, you look for your next steps and get to work. It’s important to think logically about how you handle yourself in these situations. If your first reaction is to get angry and blame people for what went wrong, then you’re doing nothing but digging your hole deeper.

Whereas if you take the time to tend to the needs of those around you (co-workers, team members, clientele) and find a way out, the situation can begin to work in your favor. This will take practice as it is completely natural to react to the feelings stirred up by the situation. However, once you can stabilize your emotions and think critically, you will be able to solve the issue.

Find The Neutral Zone

Some situations may not require you to make moves urgently, for example, if the response will bring further negativity then it is best not to respond and back off. In other cases, being too adamant about just getting the job done could lead to neglecting the basics. Essentially, you want to always be moving and working towards something, but the little things cannot be left out.

This goes back to emotional intelligence, don’t be so fixated on the outcome that you are just flying through the process. Spend your time wisely, observe and adapt to the things going on to get the most out of your situation. 

Conclusion

Running a business is not a linear chart of progress, it takes risks but it also takes well-researched decisions. 90% of startups fail within their first 5 years often because they try to move too quickly too fast. Looking to achieve and just trying to achieve are two different things, and one of them is more dangerous than the other.

You want to search for opportunities, adapt to situations, always try to find a way out of a rut. Yet while you’re doing this, be someone who you would want to help yourself in these situations. Think about the ideal figure and implement the traits you establish.

We work with successful companies to increase their net profits using exceptional custom software solutions, contact us here to see how we can help your business grow!

 

 

Attention Getters: Creativity Fulfillment Suppression

Consider yourself at this moment right now, how many things have your attention? A better question might be how many things caught your attention when asked? Now let's rephrase the scenario, you’ve just completed a test you’ve been worried about and passed with an above-average score. How does this feel? I guess that the answer would be pretty powerful as that is how this kind of recognition resonates with us.

Okay for the last scenario, you’re an influencer and have posted something that receives a wave of negative feedback. How does this feel? These scenarios are meant to reflect the power of paying attention to ourselves and then how the attention of others can impact us. There are two ends to this spectrum, both of which stir up intense emotions and inhibit a neutral perspective in a given situation.

Yet, while these two ends are both very stimulating feelings, the one that brings the most positivity is paying attention. Now of course the phrase “paying attention” can be complex as it is not always easy. However, there is something incredibly rewarding about operating in this mindset. When we do things for attention, our validation is determined by whether or not we get it.

When we pay attention to something, we develop the reward ourselves by being focused. This concept can be confusing to grasp at first, but let’s look at the significance it holds in our lives and how we can use it:

Flow Theory

Have you ever been so focused on something that everything around you fades away? This can be seen when watching an interesting show or spending time doing anything we genuinely enjoy. This stimulating sense of something holding our full attention is called flow theory which creates that feeling of enjoyment and energetic focus. When immersed in this state of flow, you become deeply involved in your creative process.

As a result, your sense of fulfillment is earned through the time and effort you put in. This is where the true feeling of happiness is earned for creators. Understanding this theory under the scope of creativity, we can begin to understand how important it is in driving us to do something. 

Look For Collaboration, Not Competition   

In an age of interconnectedness, we are putting ourselves on display for everyone to see through social media and the Internet. While these are useful for publicizing the things we’re proud of, it is easy to fall into a pattern of comparison. It is important to know that doing things for attention will never fulfill our need for it as it will never be enough.

Instead, you’ll want to look for opportunities to learn from others, to grow, and apply methods to make your creativeness thrive. In short, do things for yourself because the only opinion that matters to you is yours. 

Focus On Creating

What truly makes someone an artist is their ability to use their imagination as a means of providing value. Now, this value is only determined by the creators' ability to express thoughts and emotions of their own. Where this concept loses its purity is when creators focus on the outcome of their creations more so than how they’re constructing them. Now yes it is only natural to wonder what will happen as a result of creating something but this curiosity must be put on the back burner.

Creating for the sake of drawing attention will hinder the enjoyment of creating and expressing genuineness, therefore bringing down the value seen by the creator. Instead, spend time evaluating your work for yourself “how does this resonate with me?” “what are my intentions?” “do I believe in this?” “how can this help someone?”. Finding the significance of the meanings you create will allow you to be present in your creative process. 

Conclusion

Connection is more easily accessible than it’s ever been. Any form of media relies on attracting your attention for as long as possible. This algorithm trains people to think about how they are being perceived as they are on the side of perception every day. Whatever your career, hobbies, or interests involve, you do something that will lead to an outcome. If you want this outcome to be rewarding and bring you a sense of fulfillment, then pay attention to how you do it. The more you focus on your actions the more confident and successful you will be in creating.

We work with successful companies to increase their net profits using exceptional custom software solutions, contact us here to see how we can help your business grow!

 

 

 

Productivity Framework: Tips for Focus

If there’s one thing almost everyone can agree on today it’s that distractions come easy. With access to all sorts of media outlets and communication technology, it’s hard to be bored. The remote work shift over the past two years especially has made exposure to these outlets rise dramatically. Researchers found that users typically spend more time on their mobile devices during the week than on weekends. On top of that, the average person is estimated to have checked their phone 58 times per day.

If we add up all this time throughout the week, there’s a lot of time wasted. We even sometimes tell ourselves that we don’t have time for things as simple as taking care of our bodies. Now, each person is entitled to allocate their time to whatever they like, and technology is our most accessible outlet. While these advancements are great to have, it is not the best way to spend time especially if we are chasing goals.  

Being able to concentrate will serve any individual well in their life, especially when it comes to their professional career. Staying connected is important, so we want to find the balance that will best benefit each person's needs. Of Course, as a professional, you deal with so many things going on around you at once that it can be hard to concentrate on one. Often when this is the case, we can fall into a pattern of procrastination.

It’s important to know how to manage ourselves and our time in these situations.

So let’s look at what we can do:

Organize 

A clear space is a clear mind and a cluttered space is a cluttered mind. Tidy your workspace, the task in itself is a good habit to get into especially as it will make you focus on something. It is best to begin the day by making your bed and then setting up your workspace. Completing these tasks will inevitably lead to a chain of completing other tasks as the common phrase suggests “morning wins the day”.

You also want to feel comfortable in areas where you spend your creative time, taking stress off your mind and allowing thoughts to flow freely. 

Pomodoro Technique

This technique is one of the most effective ways of managing time, especially in situations where work is piling up. Developed by author Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro technique is where you spend 25-30 minutes locked in on a task. Put your phone on silent and focus on nothing else but your task for that time. You then take a 5-minute break to do whatever it is you would like.

The technique works well because you know you will be able to take a break and you have an allocated amount of time for your task. You will begin to use those 25-30 minutes with more focus than you would use all day. Additionally, you would enjoy the break time even more and can increase it throughout the day. 

Focus On What’s In Front Of You

Often we get overwhelmed because of the volume of things on our minds. This leads to overthinking, stressing, and worrying which are all counterproductive to completing anything. Instead, make a list (mental or write it out) of all the things you need to do and then break them down to establish the most pressing ones.

Completing tasks based on their urgency will allow you to utilize your time better and avoid worrying about tasks beyond that. It quite simply comes down to handling things one at a time. 

Get Moving

Physical activity speaks for itself, nothing can make you feel so consistently optimistic and ready to take on challenges more than exercise. Dedicate some time in the day for it, even if it is as simple as taking a walk. Exercise will help with mental health and overall mood which as we know is crucial at all times. Spend time with yourself. How you do the little things is how you do the big things too. 

Conclusion

Productivity at the end of the day comes down to one's ability to regulate themselves, how disciplined are you? How important is what you do? What are your goals? Answering these questions will allow you to work with passion and purpose. You never want to be aimlessly going about each day, because it is always an opportunity to achieve. Find what works for you, what motivates you, and the tools you need to be as focused as possible.

We work with successful companies to increase their net profits using exceptional custom software solutions, contact us here to see how we can help your business grow!