[February 5, 2017] Today is the most important day of the year for American football fans. Super Bowl LI will be a contest between the Patriots and the Falcons. Preparations have been completed … plans made, strategies established, and everything readied. All that remains is execution. That is why we say that every team member must have focus if they plan on winning.
Winning, or being successful in any worthwhile endeavor, is the name of the game for leaders of all types. To get the job done and win means that distractions are minimized and the mind of each player is ready to do their part. Focus requires practice, personal discipline, intimate knowledge, and intelligence. Note that brute force plays a part but when each of the best players in the world are present, it takes more and that more is focus.
No leader that has managed to get very far in their profession has done so without a focused mind and then remaining focused when so many obstacles in daily life abound is difficult. That is what separates the best leaders from the rest. And it is no surprise that social scientists today tell us about shortened attention spans of most adults and that there is a leadership crisis in America.
When senior leaders lose their focus bad things can happen. For example, the country of France has become the “epicenter” of Islamic terror attacks in Europe.1 The question is being asked why could this be the case. Certainly the answer is complex but the one reason experts tell us is that the French government long ago lost focus on their main priority – protecting their citizens and their culture.
This weekend’s football playoffs will be a “test of wills” (that’s what the sportscasters are telling us anyway) … yet, simply put, it is about what team can remain the most focused. A come from behind victory is not unexpected if that team keeps their head in the game and displays the will to win. Let’s see how well that works out this coming Sunday.
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