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Success doesn’t just happen, even when something appears to be an “overnight success.”

It comes because, day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year, someone acted with relentless intention.

And while this is not the answer most of us want to hear, it is the surest path to success.

Here are five areas of intentionality that will help you succeed.

Be intentional with your TIME.

If you don’t decide where your time will go, someone certainly will decide it for you. In this day and age, your precious, valuable time could be squandered on the relentless pursuit of inbox zero or on social media vanity metrics or on endless (and oftentimes meaningless) news reels.

Well, here’s a newsflash for you: Your calendar signals your intent.

Look at your calendar for this month. Does it reflect intentional actions and investments of time in the people and things that matter most to you, or is it full of obligations you didn’t want to make, driven by others?

Of course, everyone must work; but is your work intentional? Are your meetings targeted and focused? Are the people who matter most to you somewhere on the calendar? Are your goals there?

Be intentional with your TALENTS.

Each person has certain innate strengths, and these are core to one’s very being. But these strengths alone do not guarantee success.

What does make the difference?

Intentionality.

The intentional application of those strengths is what leads to success. It has been said that if you do something for 10,000 hours, you become an expert in that area. This is intentional application of strengths, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day.

Be intentional with your TREASURES.

Beyond the calendar, your checkbook is another great indicator of intent. You may say your goal is to grow a business to a point where you can give to others. Does your checkbook indicate you are giving now to the level that you can?

Being fiscally responsible may be a value of yours, but does your checkbook support that intent?

Perhaps you are seeking long-term financial security for yourself and your company. Do your financial decisions and actions today speak to that intent?

Be intentional with your TEAM.

Everyone needs a strong team, which includes Trainers, Encouragers, Allies, and Mentees. But such a team does not “just happen.” It is built with intent.

It is not easy in a post-COVID era to build a team, but it is more important than ever to have one.

Take time to list those who make up your team. And if you have gaps, work with intent to fill them.

• This may require reaching out to a mentor or trainer who can guide you to a next level of growth or hold you accountable.
• It may require vulnerability in admitting uncertainty and seeking those who are your natural encouragers – who see more in you than you can see in yourself.
• It may mean hiring new team members to work alongside you in the trenches.
• And it may mean seeking opportunities to share what you have learned with others, as a mentor.

And thus, leadership comes full circle. As you grow, revisit the team that will support you to new and higher levels. And, always, invest in others along the way.

Be intentional with your TACTICS.

This starts with creating a strategic plan. Where do you intend to go? What are the end results toward which you will lead your team?

Leaders will often go off to a strategic planning retreat and come back with a shiny new plan. And, all too often, it ends there.

Why?

It is because there were no tactics defined to actually make the plan happen. Those tactics start with clear communication with your team and a mapping session, so that everyone knows the game plan and their part in the bigger picture. The strategic plan is not enough. It needs strategic, intentional action.

Action Steps

1. Look at your calendar for this month. Is your TIME being used with intention? What needs to be added? What needs to be removed?
2. Look at your TALENTS. (If you’re not sure what yours are, this assessment will help you determine your strengths.) Are they being used with intention on a regular basis?
3. Look at your checkbook (or your banking app) and that of your company. Do your accounts reflect intentional use of your TREASURES for the goals and values you have defined for now and for the future?
4. Consider your TEAM (Trainers, Encouragers, Allies, and Mentees). Make a column for each and list those who fill each role. Are there missing members? Is there a need to add someone to your team for the sake of growth or support?
5. Review your strategic plan and TACTICS. What are the goals, and do you have a defined path to get there?

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!