Get Forward Focused

What do you want your organization to create in this world?

The answer starts with knowing thyself. A strong organization needs a clearly articulated Mission, Vision, Values, Belief System and Perspective (or MVVBP).

It’s not as intimidating as it may seem. In this Flash Cast, we’ll help you define your MVVBP with examples and explanations to inspire you.

When you think about the big-picture goals your organization is working on, does your team have a solid strategy in place to get there, or does it seem like you’re spinning in mud?

While most leaders think they’re implementing strategy, in reality, they may just be focused on tactics. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between strategy and tactic, and why you need a balance of both to grow effectively.

If you’re a leader, no matter what industry you’re in, you’re in the people development business. That mindset is critically important when you’re guiding a team through times of change, fear and uncertainty.

Today, we’re discussing one of my favorite books of 2022, “10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times” by Tom Ziglar (son of iconic motivational speaker Zig Ziglar — one of the greats). It’s about creating an environment that will help your team thrive through adversity, and it should be at the top of your reading list this year.

As a leader, it’s great to celebrate success in your organization — but  don’t let overconfidence blind you to the red flags of potential  downfall.   This Flash Cast is inspired by Jim Collins’ book, “How the Mighty Fall,”  which describes 5 stages of decline in a company and the warning signs  to keep on your radar, so you can avoid them. If you find your  organization falling, it’s important to act now and rise again.

Even the best leaders have blind spots. In this Flash Cast, we’re talking about an awesome concept in communication called Johari’s Window that will help you get more honest feedback on your own. It’s a useful tool for leaders to help build trust and authenticity in your organization, so you can become the best possible version of yourself, for your team.

When it’s time to hire new employees, finding someone who will add  value to your organization is the first step. The next step — which is  equally important — is to make sure the new team member has what they  need to be successful in your organization.

In this Flash Cast, we’re talking about the three things you should  do with every new hire to help them be an asset to your organization.

Here’s a simple task you can add to the end of your workday to set yourself up for success the next morning: the Daily Rundown. In this Flash Cast, we’re talking about the three things you should do before closing out the day — and how powerful this small habit can be.

Note: This episode builds on the advice of an earlier episode, Breathe (https://getforwardfocused.com/just-breathe), which introduces the concept of setting aside time in your schedule to focus and realign so you can regain control over your calendar.

When you’re spending too much of your day on the wrong types of tasks,  you’re not getting the best return on your time. In this episode, we’re  explaining how to conduct a Task Audit. It’s a simple, eye-opening  activity that will help you reduce your functional and administrative  tasks, so you can invest your time more effectively every day.  

Try it yourself using the Task Audit worksheet [https://getforwardfocused.com/task-audit-activity]. If you  need help implementing the audit or driving the conversation, reach out  to ask how Forward Focused services can help.

Over the course of a life or career, it’s natural to hit an occasional ceiling where you feel stuck at a certain level of achievement. But the  danger of sitting stagnant in that place for too long is that you resign yourself to the status quo —something a good leader never wants to do.  

Today’s conversation is about the systems, tools and people that can  help you break through a ceiling of achievement, with a few great  real-world examples to drive it home.

We often think of 360 Reviews as a method of improving the performance  of an individual employee. But to really be effective as a leader, you  need to collect honest, direct and usable feedback about your own  performance, too.

This process might feel awkward at first. Follow this link to use our (Time-Stamped 360 Review Best Practices Guide) to remind yourself why this type of  feedback is so important to the success of your organization.