Presence - Present Focus
Well, we have made it to the end of 2021. It’s been another ‘interesting’ year as we have faced another year of disruption through Covid19. Each of us facing our own challenges, some have brought us to our knees and some have given us some interesting opportunities. For those of us who like to plan and have targets to work to, we have learnt that flexibility is the new target.
So, as you face 2022, a new year with new challenges and new opportunities it is often the time that we think about our new year priorities. So, as we end our ‘Christmas Present’ series, it is time to ask, what is your ‘Present Focus’.
I’ll make a prediction for you. I think 2022 will continue to throw us challenges as Covid19 continues its wrestle with mankind. World leadership will continue to struggle with it and some leaders will make poor choices around their own interests rather than those of the people they are elected to serve. In moments of uncertainty and shifting sands, those leaders who will win through will be those who firstly adhere to a strong moral purpose and secondly who embrace curiosity and flexibility. Leading in times of uncertainty, where sands shift, it needs us as leaders to redefine what is important: collaborative flexibility. You can pick a focus of an action or a target, but as we have seen in 2020 and 2021, the landscape can soon change.
New Year Values
So, as you think about your ‘present focus’, think not of actions or things or targets. Think of the values that you want to focus on. My friend Trevor Waldock shared recently on his ‘Becoming Mandela’ podcast that we should consider ‘New Year Values’ rather than ‘New Year Resolutions’. What value is important to you? What are your core values as an organisation? Which of these need your focus as you step into 2022? Which value will help people at this time to remain resilient for another year?
Everyday Leader has two core values that drives what we do:
Integrity - Where actions and behaviour is driven by honesty with a strong sense of moral principles.
Authenticity - A genuine and honest focus on a cause and purpose, not out of a sense of ego and self-importance.
Dig a little deeper into our literature and you will find that we have these three that fuel our work too:
Passion - To love what you do, to be motivated and totally committed to a cause.
Determination - To have courage and resolve, grit and persistence to both inspire and overcome obstacles.
Adaptability - Having the ability to drop the ‘myside bias’ and replace it with an objectivity and the ability to adapt to changing landscapes.
So, which of these will be our ‘present focus’ as we start 2022? In one sense, it is like asking to pick a favourite child, you just can’t because you love them all equally. But, like your children, sometimes one of them needs a focus for a period maybe because of what they are facing. So, for us, we will choose ‘determination’ as our ‘present focus’.
One simple question
Having chosen the value, it is then about asking one simple question:
“What does this value look like in this situation?
So, as Everyday Leader has its ‘present focus’ of determination, we can ask
What does determination look like when we review our services?
What does determination look like when we find Covid19 barriers to meeting people to offer our services?
What does determination look like when we look to expand our offer and we hit obstacles?
What does determination look like in our own personal development?
The important thing is to not accept the first answer. As we have determination as a focus, dig deeper with question of ‘and’?
Conversation
When you decide on your value focus, chat about it as a team and keep the present focus as the present focus. Chat regularly about examples of how you are operating the value. Celebrate it when you see it in action. Be curious together about what your value can look like. Have fun with it
We would be fascinated to hear from anyone who takes up the challenge of having a ‘present focus’ on a value and the difference that it makes to you and the team. We would love to continue the conversation. In another potential year of uncertainty, I think you might find it can make a difference.
Can we help you?
Would you like help exploring values that could drive you & your organisation? A coach can ask you questions independently to help you gain clarity. Give us a call if you would like us to help you explore this and empower yourself.
Everyday Leader is here to empower, inspire and equip you to do that If we can help you find a way forward, through coaching, training or consultancy. Do let us know if we can be of help to you. colin@everydayleader.co.uk
