How to Un-Fog Your Future into Focus
Whether you are setting strategy for your business or for your life, it’s critical to get free of the fog so you can focus. The world is full of uncertainty which can create clouds of chaos in your brain and a foggy future. The way to un-fog the future is to know where you are and know where you are going.
Know Where You Are
Pause, reflect and capture the pivots you’ve made and the lessons you’ve learned over the last five months. We spent yesterday with a fantastic group of leaders who got really clear on their current state and what was working so they could build on positive progress. They also thoughtfully considered areas that are leading to ineffective patterns of behavior, and put a plan of action in place to sustain changes that support the culture they want to create.
It’s common for new patterns of behavior to emerge in times of disruption as team members work together to focus on urgent organizational priorities over departmental or individual priorities and needs. We used the Culture Mirror Process to collectively reflect, learn, and unite the team in support of refined improvement strategies and plans.
Whatever process you use, it’s essential to pause and get clear on where you are. Discuss what is working and what needs improvement. Consider the lessons learned, the pivots made and the leadership / cultural impacts. You can’t make progress until you know your starting point. Take an honest look around (and if you’re interested in bringing in an unbiased evaluator, we’d love to help!)
Know Where You Are Going
Bob Johansen from the Institute of the Future talks about resisting the temptation of certainty. It’s true that the brain craves certainty and that the lack of it is very disconcerting. However, certainty is dangerous because it is often an illusion. Rather than grasping for certainty get clear on where you are going.
When you know where you are and you get clear on where you are going, that sets your direction. Consider that “the future will reward clarity and punish certainty.” To take effective action you must be clear on direction and flexible on execution.
Un-fog your future by realistically observing where you are and knowing where you are going, and then enjoy the journey. The path will be filled with opportunities and obstacles. It’s up to you to navigate using the clarity that you created.
Along the journey remember the Serenity Prayer which says, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
