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Establishing FocusDefinition
Establishing Focus is the ability to develop and communicate goals in support of the business's mission.
BehaviorsAn employee demonstrating this competency:
After a unit meeting to establish focus or develop a plan, conduct an exercise to “pro/con” the meeting. On a flip chart draw a vertical line and write “Pro” and “Con” at the top of each column. First ask people what went well. Capture responses in the “Pro” column. Then ask what could have been done better. Capture responses in the “Con” column. Before a unit meeting to establish focus or develop a plan, review your agenda and planned process with someone whose judgment you respect. Ask for suggestions. After the meeting, ask a participant for feedback about your process and facilitation. Interview someone who has successfully established focus for a business or organizational unit. Consider people both inside and outside of your organization and company. Ask that person to walk through the process. How did he/she decide to approach the task? Why? What specifically did he/she do? What would you have seen and heard if you had been present? Obtain descriptions of what happened at key meetings. What problems or issues arose? How did the person deal with these problems or issues? What, if anything, would the person do differently? If you are coaching someone who is trying to develop this competency, you can: • Model the process in your unit, so that the person you are managing can see how to go about this process. • Arrange for the person to meet and talk with others in the organization who have established direction in their units. • Meet with the person and the staff in his/her unit to explain the larger business goals and direction of your unit and provide your perspective on what the person’s unit needs to do to align itself with the direction of the larger unit. • Help plan communications and provide your suggestions and feedback.
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, Cal Newport. 304 pages. Grand Central Publishing, 2016 Facilitation Skills: Helping Groups Make Decisions: Simple Steps to Help Groups & Teams Focus on the Issue and Build Agreement on Solutions, by Gregory B. Putz. 256 pages. Bountiful, UT: Deep Space Technology Co., 2002. Focus: The Future of Your Company Depends on It, by Al Ries. 328 pages. Harper Business. 2005. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity by David Allen. 288 pages. Penguin Books, 2015. Leading with Questions: How Leaders Find the Right Solutions By Knowing What To Ask, by Michael J. Marquardt. 321 pages. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2014. Managing Beyond the Quick Fix: Managing Five Tracks to Organizational Success, by Ralph Kilmann. 256 pages. Beard Books, 2003. The Solutions Focus: Making Coaching and Change S.I.M.P.L.E., by Paul Z. Jackson & Mark McKegrow. 228 pages. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2007. The Leadership Challenge: 4th Edition, by James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner. 400 pages. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2017. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. 432 pages. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Ltd., 2013. (Especially Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind) The Solutions Focus: Making Coaching and Change SIMPLE, by Paul Z. Jackson & Mark McKergow. 228 pages. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2006. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman. 246 pages. BenBella Books, 2012. Vision to Reality: How Short-Term Massive Action Equals Long Term Maximum Results, by Honoree Corder.128 pages. Honorée Enterprises Publishing, 2014. WORKSHOPS & COURSES - PUBLIC, ONSITE, ONLINE LinkedIn Learning. Online courses. Doing It All: How to Stay Focused and Engaged. Two days. American Management Association. Tel. 877 566-9441. Getting Things Done Live Training + Certification. Educations Media Group (EMG). Managing Chaos: Tools to Set Priorities and Make Decisions Under Pressure. Two days. American Management Association. Tel. 877 566-9441 Managing Multiple Priorities, Projects and Deadlines. One day. Fred Pryor Seminars. Tel. 800 780-8476 Strategic Thinking. Two days. American Management Association. Tel. 877 566-9441 Strategic Visioning™: Visually Activated Planning. Three days. Grove Consultants. Tel.415 561-6130 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES See Appendix Back |