When coaching, I like to ask the question “How do you know when you have been successful?” Often, I am met with a significant pause accompanied by a blank stare and then a comment that they have not thought of that before. You see, many people are busy trying to accomplish tasks, check off projects, and watch metrics on efficiency, accuracy or profitability. All of these are good things to achieve, but they fall short of the true key to defining success.
Instead, what if we turned our attention to the actual things that ultimately produce efficiency, accuracy and profitability? For example, what if we were going to evaluate our assumptions on what people need or want in a product? I was talking with the owner of a long-standing business who had assumed that the product and features they offered were still what people wanted. Instead, the market had created a more commoditized segment of their product and they found themselves with declining sales. It is easy to assume that what has worked in the past should keep working. However, the world and people are changing, so we must reevaluate our assumptions rather than thinking that we know enough.
Our capacity to adapt our mindset makes a significant difference in our ability to succeed. Each of us have default “mindsets” that come easily for us. For example, some people find it easy to be resolute, while for others this mindset is much more challenging. When we find it difficult to move to another type of mindset or approach, we limit our success. Being able to shift to collaborative or dynamic thinking allows us to be highly effective.
Finally, we must seek wisdom as much as knowledge. Knowledge is a great foundation for decision making, but by itself, does not ensure that we will make the best decisions. Wisdom is knowing what to do with the information or knowledge we possess. By prioritizing meeting and learning from wise people around us we gain invaluable insights. Wisdom allows us to anticipate the implications of our actions, or how to navigate unforeseen situations that might arise. Wisdom is one of the greatest differentiators in any context.
What are you prioritizing and measuring? Consider whether you need to change your priorities and instead spend time on what matters!
