Hello Reader,
Thinking ahead is good, thinking outward is better.
You have been given the task to prepare a presentation at your company that is supposed to introduce new scientific methods and techniques that your company wants to embrace going forward.
You feel honoured to have receive this assignment (it’s in front of a large audience) and you are aware of the responsibility you have been given with this.
Your mind is already going through all the publications that you will summarise to be able to give a good overview.
You get started with an outline, you have put some thought into a nice design and you feel pretty confident that you will be able to deliver a good presentation and that you will be able to answer any questions that may come up.
The above is an example of inward focus with respect to getting work done.
“Thinking ahead is good, thinking outward is better.”
What do I mean by that?
I came across the concept of outward focus a while ago and it made so much sense that I wanted to share it with you today.
Outward focus would be if the employee above had looked at the task she was assigned through the lens of it being an interdependent contribution to her company’s purpose instead of an independent task to be completed.
What would she have done differently?
Before starting the task, she would have asked herself these two questions:
1) What can I do now to help the people who work before me and after me?
2) How can I assist with the processes that precede and follow my work?
She would have gone to her boss to clarify expectations around the presentation. She would have found out that company morale was low and that it would be great if the presentation could boost team spirit instead of it being yet another technical lecture.
She would have consulted colleagues who would be the ones to actually work on the new technologies to find out what is realistic for them and how they might already want to get involved with the presentation.
She would have gotten the technical team and secretaries on board, who are in charge of room bookings, mic set up, invitation sending etc.
Same task – but very different outcomes.
What can you do today to help the people around you, when you are completing your tasks?
You can do it! 🙋♀️💪
Mareike
P.S. You want a successful career with more time and energy for family, friends and yourself? You want energy for yoga instead of Netflix yet again? Book your free 60min strategy call with me. We will discuss how you can make it there.
