Leadership

Let s face it, there is a lot going on out there. Our economy is on the fritz and every news story tells us that one more multimillion dollar company needs a government bailout. Foreclosures are happening right and left. We have troops in harm s way, and Christmas is only a few short weeks away. And that is just the big picture! We have not even mentioned your business and all the things that you need to keep up with on a daily basis. Here are 15 ways to keep yourself focused amid all the distraction. See what works for you.

Meet With Your Peers. One of the most difficult things about entrepreneurship is that it’s a lonely venture. More than anything you need a support system made up of other businesspeople who can help you get motivated and give you great ideas for your business. When you’re looking for a group to join, make sure you’re not the smartest one in the room. You want the chance to learn from other people. Also make sure that the group is structured and not just a free-for-all. If you can’t find a peer group in your local area, find one online to join.

First you have the value of the participants’ time, more precious than ever in this time-starved work world. Second, add in the cost of any facility rental, AV equipment, travel, food and lodging. Finally, and most important, there is the opportunity cost if, following your meeting, plans and decisions are not carried out or your team’s behavior does not change for the better.

When a team first comes together they are at the forming stage where members are unsure of their role in the team, cannot yet trust the abilities of other team members and therefore, productivity is low. As familiarity grows and team members start to jostle for position in the team, particularly in relation to roles and responsibilities, tension grows, co-operation is low and so too is productivity - this is the storming stage. As team members settle into regular patterns of working with clear roles and responsibilities (the norming stage), their productivity improves alongside increased co-operation and steady working relationships. And this is as far as most teams get to - a steady, co-operative working environment with decent productivity