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In today’s business world, productivity is expected at maximum speed and power.

People listen to podcasts on double speed as they put on their tie or makeup, all while racing to work, trying to learn all they can or get information and news on the fly. Automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics are replacing people and jobs at an unprecedented pace. Communication that once took days or even weeks now happens instantaneously; and because it does, employees and managers are feeling the pressure to work faster and faster…or risk being automated out of existence. Multi-tasking has been taken to new levels, and even those who prided themselves in being able to accomplish a lot in a little time now find themselves struggling to keep up with demands.

In our increasingly wireless society, we are more “wired” than ever. Similar to the dot com and housing market frenzies, these trends will at some point reach a point of critical mass, plummet, and then find their equilibrium. Otherwise, today’s workforce will reach an unsustainable point of stress, and businesses will unwittingly short-circuit their own success.

How can you, as a leader, power your business without short-circuiting its success?

1. Be crystal clear on vision.

When you are clear on vision, you can focus. Focus is essential to productivity. The more focused you are, the faster you can go safely, and the better your outcome will be. Without focus, you will have chaos, bottlenecks, and a very frustrated workforce. But with focus, you can get from Point A to Point B in a very targeted, concerted, and efficient fashion.

With vision, you can move fast but with a lower volume of stress on your people, resulting in speed without the pressure. Without it, the wiring can become entangled and, with all the power running through it in an unfocused manner, it becomes a hazardous situation.

Short-circuit the vision, and you sacrifice the mission.

2. Be proactive in your planning.

The space between idea and reality grows smaller every day. We expect instant results. When we purchase online, we expect an immediate download or delivery. When we order food, we expect immediate service. This is why planning is key. If you take just a little time to plan, you can deliver on a more immediate and consistent basis. Planning allows you to address the necessary details and create a profitable flow in your business. Failing to plan can short-circuit your success by interrupting the flow of your business.

Short-circuit the planning, and you sacrifice efficiency.

3. Be sensitive to strengths.

In wiring, there are different gauges. Some wires conduct a heavy load of power; while others carry a faster but lighter current. Crossing those wires can cause sparks to fly. Connecting those wires without the proper insulators can be dangerous.

So it is with people. Across a productive workforce are people with differing strengths. There are those who carry power and direct action, those who are quick starters, those who do details, and those who dive deeply into quality and analysis.

As a leader, you need all these strengths in order to produce a product or service and deliver it well and with quality. But if you do not manage the current that flows into each, you create overload or, conversely, boredom, in your workforce.

For example, if you are a D-wired leader, you are designed to convey a heavy load of power. You can convey that power to another D-wired leader, and they can carry the load. But if you are working with I-, S-, or C-wired individuals, you must diversify the load because they are wired for faster, lighter, and more singular currents.

As a leader, you must learn to manage your power and the power of your team in such a way that there is flow but no overload.

Short-circuit wiring limits, and you sacrifice the power of the team.

4. Be committed to customers.

You can have great vision, meticulous planning, and a powerful team. But if you don’t focus that vision, planning, and power on the people you serve, you could lose everything.

This is because everything you do in business is, in some way, connected to the people you serve. If you are not committed to serving them well from start to finish and after the sale, your business will be adversely impacted.

Short-circuit commitment, and you sacrifice the business.

Vision, planning, power, and commitment…is your team wired for success?

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For more resources on how to create and lead a strengths-based team, click here to learn about the Maxwell Method of Communication Impact Report.

As the CEO of Strength Leader Development, Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after international executive mentor, coach, trainer and speaker. Deb is well versed in global business operations and helps business leaders and their teams to discover and leverage their strengths, so they can create highly collaborative teams that deliver great results. With a refreshingly direct style, Deb helps leaders and their teams to deliver profitable results. Connect with Deb to learn more about her mentorship and coaching programs to equip you with advanced strategies to elevate your results.

When you have a strong team that collaborates well,
you have a competitive advantage.

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