Leaders Deflect Distractions
Great leaders proactively prevent distractions from becoming disruptions
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned in business, it’s that people love distractions.
That’s why great leaders proactively deflect the endless nonsense that threatens to take their people off course from greater success. Let’s learn a few ways to clear people’s paths - and minds - as a leader.
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Distraction or Disruption?
Over the past 33 years, I’ve seen plenty of distractions that turned out to be nothing more than noise.
Just think of all the “disruptions” that threatened to throw the whole industry off track. Multiple recessions, a financial crisis, banks in real estate, foreclosure crisis, real estate portals, iBuyers, inventory shortage, a pandemic, rising interest rates, and even murder hornets.
And every time all that was happening, somebody had their best year ever!
But it’s very difficult, because there are entire industries dedicated to distractions.
Plus our brains naturally love them. It’s not just a “squirrel meme” that says we’re built to react to distractions. Science tells us that noticing distractions is the brain’s primary way of keeping us safe from danger. But noticing every little nuance also takes us off track for achieving something better.
That’s where great leadership comes in.
Warning, Will Robinson!
Remember that robot from Lost in Space, who always knew when danger was approaching and warned the family? Our job as leaders is to provide a similar early warning to our people that distractions are heading their way.
That’s why leaders must make time every day to review industry news, talk directly with customers, and keep an eye on important performance metrics inside the company and the competition. Because at any time, the tiniest little change can morph from a tiny molehill into a great big mountain —
Or so it seems.
Take Action Against Distraction
How can leaders keep their people from getting inundated with headlines and instant messages that quickly distract them from their own intentions for the day? Here are three simple steps to add to your leadership routines:
Make Priorities a Priority, every day. Let me say that again — every day, reinforce your priorities, not the news. Don’t just repeat goals in an email or text message. Instead, integrate your organization’s key growth priorities into the ordinary work of the company. Remind your people of what their personal success goals are, too. Start meetings by connecting the topic of the moment to bigger annual goals. Connect coaching and training to the mission, not just reactions to the marketplace. And find ways in ordinary conversations to connect the dots between their attention and performance, rather than wasting time on temporary issues.
Clear the Air Powerfully. Be proactive, forceful and forthcoming with countering the narratives that ripple across your communications channels. When people see stories in the press or rumblings in social media, don’t delay. Immediately communicate your understanding and interpretation of the situation - with more information, or a constructive perspective. It’s even possible to turn a distraction into a call to action by becoming a strong voice in the conversation, instead of hoping the confusion will just fade away. Leaders actively dispute incomplete or false information, and demonstrate their position on the front line of anything that threatens to cause their people unnecessary concern.
Lead by Example. Demonstrate your ability to stay focused, even when the whirlwind blows around you. Show up and do your job without hesitation. Acknowledge you’ve seen the news, then proceed to intentionally set it aside, as a role-model for your people by saying, “Yes, I’ve heard that, but I’m not going to let it take my eyes off our goals.” Show calm, consistent confidence in your own strategy, your combined abilities to handle any challenges, and your commitment to things that matter more than predictions that may never come true. Show others you’re so busy implementing your own objectives that even if the distraction is right, it doesn’t mean it matters to your shared success.
Effective executives are on the forefront of their people’s defense against distractions.
Far more progress is lost to lack of implementation than true disruption from competition. According to a study by Penn State University, less than 9% of our worries ever come true - that means more than 91% of them are simply distracting ideas - in our own minds or from outside nonsense. It’s even more complicated given the vast majority of media today is intentionally built to keep our attention away from our own goals.
One of the most ethical - and productive - things a leader can do is actively disrupt those disruptions, and give their followers the peace of mind necessary to stay focused on their own success.
Try it!
—M
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