Stop for a moment and think about when you’ve had your most successful moments.  When you really get to the heart of what made it possible, what drove you to reaching the goal?  You likely focused.  You set your sights on one thing that really mattered, then set out to make it so.  Want to have a more relaxing holiday or have a higher predictability of achieving your goals next year?  Focus is the key.

Even where there are a lot of moving parts, focus is possible.  Fast Company’s December/January issue is about “Secrets of The Most Productive People” and the feature article is on Pharrell Williams, one of the hottest music producers around today. He’s also an entrepreneur, designer, musician, author.  In fact, the article lists 13 titles Willams has to his credit.  Yet the one thing he sees himself as is a musician.  “I’m always thinking I’m so eclectic, but the truth is that everything boils down to music for me.  That’s the key to my success.” 

I’m currently interviewing CEOs of fast-growing companies on what’s made them successful.  One specifically said the greatest thing he’s done for his company is to provide focus.  When he took the helm seven years ago, he quickly assessed the company needed to stop going down the three paths it was on and narrowed it to one, even though at the time it represented the lowest percentage of the business.  The company has had high double-digit growth every year since.

Another good reason to focus is it can make us happier.  Recent research conducted by Matt Killingsworth revealed people’s minds wander  a lot and that 47% of the time our minds are on things other than what they’re currently doing.  Think the team is present with you in a meeting?  Think again.  Killingworth also found lack of focus made people unhappy.  Even in least favorite activities such as commuting, people were less happy when their mind wandered.  However, people were significantly happier when they focused on one thing, even if it was focusing on a task they didn’t like. 

Doing less can actually get you where you want to go.  As a leader in your organization, you are either responsible for setting vision and direction or driving results against the vision and direction.  Either way, providing focus for your team can be one of the greatest and effective ways to get you where you need to go for 2014.

Need support in creating focus for your organization?  The Bailey Group works with CEOs and their executive leadership teams to focus on what they truly need to accomplish, then helps them get to where they want to go.