Do You Have Traction?
What the Best do Better
For years, researchers have been examining the routines of high-performing leaders.
Obviously, it should come as no surprise that best-in-class leaders do a lot of things right.
They listen carefully. They inspire others. They lead by example. They bounce back. They practice gratitude, the list goes on.
But according to emerging research, perhaps nothing is more important to a leader’s success than the ability to zero-in on the things that matter most.
Said differently, if there’s anything that we’ve learned about the practices of the world’s best leaders, it’s that they starve distraction and feed focus.
Let me say it again, best-in-class leaders starve distraction and feed focus.
Their mantra goes something like this:
“My energy flows where my attention goes.”
As Leaders of LIGHT, we must also understand that sustaining our focus in a world filled with distractions is crucial if we are to achieve our goals, enhance our productivity, and make effective decisions.
What’s more, by minimizing our interruptions, we can better channel our energy and attention toward our most important tasks—and this will lead us to improved results and overall success.
Perhaps best of all, when we get focused, so will everyone else. And that’s when the real magic happens.
And Now For Some Heartbreaking News
A heartbreaking new study conducted by Crucial Learning has uncovered that leaders from all walks of life are failing to stay focused on the task at hand and/or when communicating with others—and it’s crippling relationships, productivity, and mental health.
Just how bad is it?
Two out of three leaders say they routinely struggle to fully focus on a single task or person.
But there’s more.
Even when they can concentrate, it’s usually not for long.
Nearly 1 in 3 leaders admitted they can only focus on a task for 10 minutes (or less!) before getting distracted. Just 3 out of 5 last 20 minutes or less.
Paraphrasing the words of the study’s chief researcher:
“Distractions are disastrous for leaders. And in the age of big tech, they’re not going away…In fact, it’s harder than ever for leaders to stay focused on their priorities. And if leaders don’t learn a few key strategies to manage their focus, their productivity will continue to tank—as will their mental health.”
Introducing Traction
According to Nir Eyal, a Stanford-based tech researcher, “For leaders to remain focused, we need to find a thing called traction.”
Put simply, traction can be best defined as our “ability to zero-in on the things that pull us toward what we want to accomplish (and who we ultimately want to become!)”
Metaphorically speaking, traction acts much like a set of high-performance racing tires.
Check it out.
When elite race car drivers are traveling bumper-to-bumper at speeds up to 230+ miles per hour, it’s their tires that give them a firm grip on the road they are traveling.
In essence, traction is what’s pulling them toward the finish line.
And like world-class race car drivers, we know that we need to have traction if we want to reach our desired destination as well.
One more thing.
Traction is the polar opposite of distraction.
Don’t miss this.
When we as Leaders of LIGHT don’t have traction in our lives, we routinely fall prey to minutiae—those unimportant paper cuts that suck our time and ultimately move us away from our desired destination.
We can’t let this happen.
The Fastest Way To Gain Traction
According to Eyal, the fastest way we, as leaders of light, can gain traction in our daily lives is to identify (and schedule in) the things that matter most to us.
Here’s how it works.
Take a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you most want (and need!) to be doing to reach your ultimate destination.
Filter these items into three domains: You, your relationships, and your work.
Each day, be sure to identify one or two things you will absolutely do for yourself so that you can be at your best. For example, this could be exercising, praying/meditating, getting organized, eating right, going to bed earlier, etc.
Then, once you’ve identified these things, schedule them into your day.
Not pencil them in. Schedule them in. These items are non-negotiable.
Now do the same for your most important relationships and the biggest priorities you have at work.
At the end of the day, review your successes.
If it’s working, keep going!
If not, take drastic actions to ensure these important things get done.
Remember the opposite of traction is distraction. If you aren’t completing your priority items, there is something very wrong.
Leaders of LIGHT
Burn this into your brain.
Leaders of LIGHT march to a different drum.
They are focused. They are motivated. They are thoughtful. They are effective.
And the payoff is three-fold.
1. Things get done — and they get done right.
2. People get stronger — and they grow closer together.
3. Your life is well-lived — growth takes place by design and not default.
Get it done. Find traction. It’s a game-changer for everyone.
Until next time, see LIGHT. Be LIGHT. Spread LIGHT.
Until Next Time...
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Here’s a great quote for today: “When your diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When your diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
About Lead with Light
Lead with Light is an initiative that aims to equip current and emerging leaders with a reimagined approach to servant leadership.
Our ultimate vision is to grow and develop thousands of Leaders of Light to ignite a movement to see light, be light, and spread light in ways only each can.