Are you focusing on the wrong thing?

You’re likely focusing on the wrong thing.

Many business owners set goals, objectives and targets for themselves and their staff – true?

And you’re likely to have done the same, especially now at the start of a new year.

But here’s the thing, when it comes to achieving those goals, objectives and targets, the vast majority of people focus on the wrong thing.

Let me explain by way of a business and a personal example…

Say you set a target that you want to achieve X turnover this year. Or you want to reduce your personal weight to X pounds.

What most people then do is focus on that target turnover or that target weight… or whatever the target they’ve set for themselves or their business or for their staff.

But the focus is wrong!

The focus is on the target.

And now you’re asking what are you supposed to be focused on if you’re not to be focused on the target?

Well, the target doesn’t produce the result, the target is the result.

Stop Focusing on the Wrong Thing; focus on the cause of the target – the cause of the result – the actions that give rise to the result!

Therefore, stop focusing on the wrong things; don’t focus on the target – focus on the cause of the target.

You’ll still keep one eye on the target so as to see that the actions that you’re taking are having an impact – but it shouldn’t be your main focus.

When you focus on what will be the cause of the target, i.e., the cause of the results, then that’s very different.

Take the examples above…

What is the primary action that will give rise to the target turnover being met?

What is the primary action that will give rise to the target weight being achieved?

For your business target, it could be great customer service so that more customers talk about your business, or it could be the number of meetings you get scheduled, which turn into sales conversations, or the conversions on your website that create leads.

For your personal target; it could be the number of bench presses that you do in a sequence, or the number of kilometres you walk each week, or the volume of water you drink each day.

When you’re focused on the target, you’re seeing what hasn’t been achieved yet.

By focusing on the cause of the target, you’re seeing what is being achieved.

So here are some questions to ask yourself (and your team).

1. What are the goals, objectives, or targets that you’ve set for the month, quarter, or year?
2. What is the primary action that you can take that will result in your target being met? (this one will take some time to get really right – it’s not as simple as it might seem!)
3. How can you measure the focus and results that you have on the primary action?

A good idea is to print these questions out and bring them to your next management meeting.

Remember, you achieve your goals, objectives, and targets a lot quicker when you focus on the cause, not on the target!

P.S. Send me an email, as I’d love to hear how you can stop focusing on the wrong things. Change your focus.

If you would like to discuss the above subject matter or other areas that would be helpful for you, your business, or your organisation, join our Genius Unlocked Course.