Co-authored with Margaret Wilson
We’re well into the new year and the economy continues to send mixed signals:
In short, there’s a lot of confusion and uncertainty about what the economy is doing and where it’s heading.
Of course, this will sort itself out eventually, but how should leaders set a course in the meantime?
Look at your situation from three different perspectives to expand your visibility and see everything around you:
Look OUT
For many leaders, the environment is dynamic, uncertain and complex.
So if you’re not looking outside your organization and scanning the environment for trends and other factors that need to be considered, you’re forming only a partial picture.
Remember you don’t operate in a vacuum so spend time figuring out how the external environment impacts you.
If your environment is in flux, planning in shorter bursts will allow you to move forward with increased agility.
Look IN
Sometimes the best way to move forward involves looking inward:
These are just some of the questions that will illuminate a path forward for you and your team.
Look UP
In planning your next actions, move toward what you do want, rather than away from what you don't.
When leaders orient toward aspirations, it motivates their teams to grow toward them too.
In other words, a clear goal is a rallying cry that drives team performance, with each accomplishment inspiring the team to keep going.
In contrast, when you orient toward what you don’t want, your own and your team's motivation lasts only until the problem goes away.
The Last Word on Looking OUT, IN and UP
There’s a fog of confusing information out there, but it doesn’t have to cloud your view. Be bullish on your own organization by scanning the horizon, self-assessing your progress and setting your sights high.
