I’d like to start this blog series by acknowledging an important aspect of human nature; we don’t like changes that push us out of our comfort zone or what we’re used to, even if they promise a good outcome! I’ll give you an example.
A few years ago, I was on a trip to Alaska with a friend and we wanted to take a side excursion to Denali. Unfortunately, the best way to get there was in a tiny four-seater airplane. I fly a lot, but this plane was little and the landscape vast. To board that tiny plane, I had to muster all my faith and put all my trust in the pilot. But on the other side of the flight was glorious country with beauty beyond my wildest dreams and I would have missed out on all of it if I had stayed on terra firma.
Much like my leaning toward what I find comfortable, leaders of organizations large and small have to work with situations that are outside their comfort zones to realize greater success. That said, leaders all have at least one desire in common; to ensure their organizations succeed and to make sure they are equipped to do just that.
But, the leadership approach that worked yesterday might not be what works in today’s situations. And that’s where the need for change, or a shift, comes in. If you’re not achieving the results you desire, it could stem from a variety of sources, but as leaders, we must look in the mirror first. Thus, I have a couple questions for you.
First, are you willing to step outside your comfort zone as a way to accept a new path forward? Growth happens when we stretch outside the narrow focus of what we know and step into the wider world of possibility.
Second, are you focused on running your company or growing your company? Growing it takes a different kind of work so it’s often the road less traveled, but the results are well worth the effort.
In 2016, Art Saxby and Pete Hayes published “The Growth Gears: Using a Market-Based Framework to Drive Business Success”. I was thrilled because the authors’ thinking is right in line with Balance Point Group’s philosophy that:
Transformation happens when leaders focus on growing their company.
This means being aware of what you are doing as a leader and flexing your comfort zone to take actions that will lead to success.
In order to understand that transformation, it’s important to recognize that leaders typically fall into one of two groupings, usually without truly appreciating that the two are interdependent.
Let’s look at operational focus leadership first. Being operationally focused isn’t a bad thing, per se. In fact, it’s where more than half of all leaders live most of the time. These leaders prioritize their company’s internal functions; engineering, logistics, procedures, processes and metrics.
The second group of leaders fall into the market focused category, looking forward to envision the company’s future and outward to see what is taking place in their market space. By extension, they synthesize all this external information and apply it to their operations to better serve their customers and grow their company.
As defined above, being market focused might seem like the “right answer”. But, a certain level of operational focus helps to maintain efficiencies and combat internal drag. The goal is to find the right balance. I still prefer flying in large commercial jets, but that bumpy, noisy flight in Alaska taught me that making room for adventure and stretching my wings, so to speak, can truly broaden my horizons.
Setting up my coaching clients for success starts with asking, “Where are you spending your time?” So now, I invite you to think for a moment about how you spend your time and what earns your attention on any given day.
Are you operationally focused or market focused?
While you probably have attributes of both, have you found balance?
Making room for change can be uncomfortable but the right choices can help you find the right balance, and that will enable greater success. As we explore growth and change over the next several weeks you’ll discover tools that will help you achieve and, more importantly, maintain that balance.
Click here To learn more about Lisa Johnson