Fundamental, Most Valuable Leadership Shift: Focus Only on What You Want

Hey there, fellow leaders! Let's talk about a game-changing leadership shift that can transform your approach and take you to the next level of success. I recently had an eye-opening conversation with a manager who oversees Community Care, and I want to share their story with you.

The manager's team was facing burnout, with 60% of the members on family leave and the rest working tirelessly to handle their responsibilities. The pressure was on to enhance performance, and I could see how challenging it must be for them to keep morale high under these circumstances.

As a coach, I practice a simple but powerful framework: Start with the desired outcome. So, I asked the manager, "What would you like to have happen? What would success look like for you?" At first, they struggled to answer, bogged down by the ongoing challenges.

But I knew that focusing on what we want is essential. When we only talk about what's not working or what's wrong, we miss the opportunity to strategize and create a better future.

So, I encouraged the manager to put aside the problems for a moment and imagine their desired outcome. They wanted their team to be complete with all open positions filled, and for people to show up for work. Now we were on the right track!

We shifted the conversation from what they couldn't control (e.g., people returning from leave) to what they could influence – expediting the hiring process. They had three potential hires in the pipeline, waiting on HR paperwork.

I challenged the manager to take a leadership moment and speak only about what they wanted when communicating with HR. Instead of focusing on the problem, they could express their desire to bring on the three candidates, which would ease the workload and improve performance.

Our brains are wired to react and look for problems to solve. But as leaders, we need to rewire ourselves to focus on what we want. When we do that, we become visionaries, collaborating with others to create a desired future. We generate ideas, innovate, and take productive actions.

To make this shift, follow these action steps:

• Imprint your brain with the desired future – focus on what you want.

• Craft your lens to celebrate what's going well in your current reality.

• Practice powerful coaching questions to empower yourself and your team.

As you embrace this leadership shift, you'll become more generative, transformational, and visionary. You'll inspire others to do the same, fostering a culture of growth and excellence.