There are always problems – a parade of challenges that command your attention. Systems are down, people or organizations are working against you, or there’s a compelling difficulty without a resolution.
There are always opportunities – innovative ideas or new relationships waiting to be embraced. These are chances to create value, to share or give, to move faster or make something better.
And there are always limits – limited time, energy, money and other resources.
Where do you focus the majority of your limited resources? Your answer shapes your attitude, your actions and your future.
As a leader, deliberating about problems too heavily can weigh you down, turn your focus inward, and inhibit your ability to act on opportunities. The problem with problems is that they consume resources that would be better directed towards opportunities that could create value for your customers and your business.
There are managers in your operation whose primary function is to resolve problems. It’s your principal responsibility to focus on opportunities that could contribute to your future success. If you don’t invest your valuable time and energy to do this, who will?
Focusing on your opportunities doesn’t mean the problems don’t exist; it simply means that investing more of your limited resources on opportunities is far more likely to produce something that matters, something that creates value.
How much of your limited resources are consumed with problem solving?
How might investing more in exploring opportunities
create value for your business?
