Articles Tagged with: strategy

Set your business strategy before others do it for you !

Welcome to 2021 and as we launch in to another year of choosing to chase our Vision and living our Purpose, it’s been refreshing to take some time over the break to rest, recharge and reflect on what we want this year to look like. Reflecting on the past 12 months was powerful as it highlighted a number of Learning’s that will shape the next 12 months.

One resource consumed over the break was the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. One quality learning from this was that if we weren’t the ones to set out our strategy or set our own intentions for the period in question… others would do it for us and it wouldn’t necessarily align with what we ultimately want. This resonated, both as a business owner and also as a team member, because there have been times when not taking ownership of my direction meant it was dictated for me.

So i’ll ask you a question…. Do you let people with dirty shoes walk in to your house, take food from your fridge and walk back out leaving a mess for you to deal with? If the answer is YES… then you’ll take what you are given so good luck with this. If the answer is NO… you value yourself and are prepared to take control of your direction.

So if you want to take charge of your direction this year, what can you do now to ensure you get to fill your time with what you want.

Here are three tips to help you kick this off now:

Set YOUR strategy – make time to get very clear on what you want to achieve and deliver by years end. Regardless of any uncertainty you may think about what may happen, starting out with a view of what you want by years end and the feeling it will give you, is super powerful. Make this your plan and get it down on paper today !
Set YOUR key actions – it’s ok to have a plan, but a plan without action is simply a list. Set out the actions you will undertake to make Your plan happen. Whether it’s new clients you seek, the type of leader you will be, or the personal learning you will cover… setting clear activities you will take on helps focus your effort.
Set YOUR WIG’s – Wildly Important Goals are the top 3 goals you would like to achieve by years end. Set them as SMART goals (Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) and ensure they are visible to you and your teams. Having your team aware of your goals, and you being aware of theirs, allows everyone to help each other achieve their targets.

Value you, your skills, your experience, and those in your business. As business leaders, you are the ones who dictate how things operate in your business… so get clear what you want, clearly communicate this to others and stay true to you and your offerings.

Are you unclear of how to make these tips happen? Click on the link below to set up a Free 20min Strategy Check-in to see how you can start the process.

We look forward to bringing you even more valuable tips this year.

21 July 2019

Constantly Frustrated Leader

“It’s easy to forget, as a leader, that when employees don’t get the wide view, not only does the point of their work escape them, but it can also forge frustrated leaders. It’s hard to feel pride and ownership when you don’t understand where things are going.” Jason Fried

Running strategic workshops means you get to spend time with multiple business owners at the same time. Interestingly, the challenges currently being experienced by one business has often being experienced by others in the room. One of the most common challenges facing leaders is “Not everyone is focused on making the business successful.”

From a business owner’s perspective this can be frustrating as shouldn’t it be natural for all team members to make as much profit as possible? From a team member’s perspective shouldn’t the business be geared around providing them with the conditions and the enjoyment they want? Sometimes this doesn’t align which can be the cause of the frustration.

So how can we bridge this gap and align the business and the team’s desired outcome? Here are three tips to help get alignment:

Get clear on their map – we all view the world differently… our maps of the world differ based on past experience, beliefs, values etc. Making an effort to find out how each of the team members sees the world, means you can understand their perspective and what drives them. Motivations show what will help them create success driven habits.
Set a clear Vision – Setting a clear vision is critical to give everyone an opportunity to see where the business is going. Without this strategic road map, the effort will not deliver an aligned outcome for the business. Involving the team in this process will help get buy in and allow them to feel like it’s their plan rather than being something that’s given to them. Knowing their map will help make this a more relevant path
Give context – regularly telling people to do things without the “Why… for what purpose” will lead to frustration. Don’t assume others see the same outcomes as you. Let those around you know the purpose behind expectations and decisions to increase your chance of success. This will change the dynamic in your teams & business.

This week, check look at where you are experiencing frustrations in your business or career. Are you aware of how others think, is there a clear plan in place and do you have the required context to ensure views and actions are aligned.

Forward this on to those in your networks who need to create positive change in their circles. If you need help creating positive change and getting better results, send a note to strategy@mentorisgroup.com.au and we’ll get in contact.

Have an awesome week!

Cheers
Paul Farmer
Managing Director
http://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

23 January 2019

Making Sense of it All | Clarity

“Clarity is the most important thing. I can compare clarity to pruning in gardening. You know, you need to be clear. If you are not clear, nothing is going to happen. You have to be clear. Then you have to be confident about your vision. And after that, you just have to put a lot of work in”. Diane von Furstenberg

In times where we have so much information coming at us from so many outlets, especially in the workplace, it can become challenging to keep our eye on the ball. Deadlines, conflicting priorities, time pressures and contact solely via apps and emails can drive overwhelm and confusion, impacting our success.

Through business coaching and facilitating change in leaders, it’s become even more apparent that clarity is a deal clincher. Having a clear direction, in both business and personal areas, allows us to take the action we need to get excellent results. Yet how often do we make time to get that clarity, set ourselves up for success, be targeted in what we want to achieve and why it matters to us?

Here are 3 useful tips i’ve used recently to help me get clarity and hit the ground running in 2019:

Clarity will give you certainty – being sure on what matters and why you are doing things makes it easier to carry them out. Unsure why you are doing long hours, it becomes challenging to keep doing them. If there’s a clear reason why you do things, then you have a clear reason to keep at it.
Manage Expectations – expectations of yourself and those around you can drive your desire to make things happen. Be focussed on your expectations and standards and those who match these will gravitate towards you. Then it’s up to you as to the level you set them.
Communicate openly and often – when you are clear what your direction is and why it matters, let those around you know as t\hey will impact your ability to stay on track. Openly let them know what you want to achieve and you may find they will set their standards to help make that happen.

This week will be one of setting a clear course for your direction. Use these three tips to help ensure you are giving yourself the best opportunity to create the 2019 you want.

Forward on to those in your networks who will get value from these tips. If you’d like help implementing these in your busy schedule, send a note to strategy@mentorisgroup.com.au as we’d love to chat about adding value to you and those around you.

Have an awesome week!

Cheers
Paul Farmer
Managing Director
https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

25 November 2018

Lean into the Future

What we need to do is always lean into the future; when the world changes around you and when it changes against you – what used to be a tail wind is now a head wind – you have to lean into that and figure out what to do because complaining isn’t a strategy.Jeff Bezos(Founder, Chairman, CEO Amazon)

It’s the silly season and easy to feel like the 2018 working year is just about done, with all the Christmas Parties, lunches and social gatherings. The festive spirit is alive and well… and a perfect way to wind down and enjoy some down time before going on holidays.

Taking this pathway may see you miss a big opportunity, an opportunity to make your holiday even more enjoyable and allow you to switch off totally. While the majority of others are winding down, it’s a perfect time to time to get strategic and be setting yourself up for a big 2019. Considering the 5 R’s will have you coming back prepared to hit the ground running.

Here are 3 steps i’m using to help me hit the ground running for 2019:

Reflect on your 2018 – making time to reflect on your journey over the past year is key to building a better businesses, teams and leaders. Recognise what worked and please celebrate these, recognise where we can improve and the lessons we need to take out of the year.
Review and Reset 2019 – generally we come back in January and start to think about what we want from 2019. Problem is that we are already 1-2 weeks in to 2019 when this happens. Implement the lessons, get clear on what you want and what a successful 2019 looks like now so you are clear what your priorities are from day one.
Relax and Recharge – you’ve reviewed 2018 are clear on what a successful 2019 looks like… now you can enjoy the time you have off over the Christmas break so you are recharged for what’s going to be another big year. Spend time with family, friends, reading, relaxing…. knowing your planned 2019 is waiting for you already!

When you find yourself slipping in to your winding down zone this week, make time to sit with your teams and get these steps done. It should involve celebrating the wins and setting up your 2019 strategy to start from the first day back.

Please forward to those in your networks who will also get value from our tips. If you’d like to speak about implementing these in your business or teams, click here for your free20min consultation.

Have an awesome week!

Cheers
Paul Farmer
Managing Director
Mentoris
https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

10 November 2018

Prioritise Yourself

“One of the things I realised is that if you do not take control over your time and your life, other people will gobble it up. If you don’t prioritise yourself, you constantly start falling lower and lower on your list, your kids fall lower and lower on your list”. Michelle Obama

The silly season is well and truly here and Christmas is under 45 days away… some would look at this and fist pump that the holidays are coming up so quickly. Then there are others who look at what they expected to achieve in the 2018 year and realise that there’s so much to get done before they can go on holidays.

If you are in the second of these categories, the natural instinct is to instantly be overwhelmed and lose focus on what you actually want to achieve. I’ve had this conversation so many times over the past month and the “scramble” has taken over. So much to do and so little time… if this is you rest assured you’re not a lone soldier here.

So how do we proactively keep things on track? Here are 3 tips i’ve used to help me get projects completed at this time of year:

Plan with your team – make sure you have all your activities in your diary, calendar, schedule… including both personal and business commitments. This combination gives you a full picture of what time is already committed and what time is available for unexpected work
Prioritise your time – Pick the top 3 things you need to get done each day and make them your priority. Every 2 hours check in to see how these are going and what you can do to make them happen
Say NO – the expectation that you will take on everything in the timeframe of others is totally unproductive for you. Look at your schedule, your timeline for delivery and push back if you have to. “I’m currently working on something, I can get this to you by XXX time…. does this suit your timelines?” i’ve found to be very effective.

When you find yourself spinning your wheels because there is so much that needs to be done, apply these tips and implement your strategy for getting great results pre Christmas.

Please forward to those in your networks who will get value from our tips. If you’d like chat about helping you or your teams to implement these, send us a note at:

strategy@mentorisgroup.com.au

and we’d love to chat about adding value for you.

Have an awesome week!

Cheers
Paul Farmer
Managing Director
https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

2 September 2018

Am I Going In The Right Direction?

“Directions are instructions given to explain how. Direction is a vision offered to explain why”. Simon Sinek

It’s easy to become unclear on what it is that you want to do and what direction you want to head in. With the amount of images, videos, stories, reality tv and media reports designed to shock and sensationalise everyday activities….. it can become unclear what is real and what you can follow.

A lot of that is irrelevant to most of us. What is relevant though, is our direction and what means the most to us. Getting clear on this and why things mean something to us, will help drive the activities we take on each day and our motivation to make them successful. I see this more and more through business mentoring in Brisbane.

3 Tips on getting Direction helps

Here are my three tips for you today:

Make it about you – too often people will choose a direction based on what others might think. Your journey is your journey, your business is your business…. listen to those who have the relevant experience and then you decide what’s best for you
Make it Visible – when you get clear on your direction, put it up in your office, on your desk, on your screensaver. Constant reminders of what it is you want to achieve will help keep you focussed
Make it regular – as part of your daily routine check in on where you’ve set your direction and how you are going to take steps to making this happen. As well, each month take the time to revisit the month and look at the coming month to ensure things are on track.

This week be selfish about what you focus on as ultimately it’s this self focus that will get you the results you want.

Hit the “forward to friends” link up top and let those in your networks see how they can do this for themselves.

Feel you have something you would like to work on together, send a confidential note to strategy@mentorisgroup.com.au and we’ll help you make it happen.

Have an awesome week and keep raising the bar!

Cheers
Paul Farmer
CPA, MAICD
https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

15 July 2018

Continue Moving Forward

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. Walt Disney

Stopping off to grab a coffee on the way to my regular Sunday morning exercise, I parked in front of this car. Immediately I thought of Uni days for some reason…. and then to a Board Strategy day we held on Saturday. The amount of clarity and direction we created in a day was awesome…. but how easy would it be for us to take no action, do nothing and end up like this.

We all need moments where we make time to reflect, consolidate, strategise and move forward so we can create the growth and development we want, both for ourselves and our businesses. This is critical to make our next steps more effective and efficient… as long as we then take those next steps. Having the best plan or the best team in the world on paper is about as useful as a waterproof teabag.

3 Tips to keep you moving forward

Here are three tips:

Reflect, Review & Refocus – when you feel like you might be in a flat spot, make time to get clear on your direction and what you truly want. This refocus will make your next moves even more effective
Take the initiative – choosing to stand still and take no action will get you just that… nothing. Take the steps and make those decisions to get you moving towards your new outcomes
Surround yourself with other quality people – modelling and surrounding yourself with other successful people, whether they be Leaders in your Business, Coaches, Mentors, gives you the opportunity to see what’s also possible for you!

So how can you use these tips to help you this week? Picture what things will look like in a week, a month when you apply these tips… how good will that feel and what else will you have?

Make a decision to be empowered and share this with your networks, so they too can create the journey they want. To chat about investing in yourself send a note to strategy@mentorisgroup.com.au so we can help you and your teams kickstart your next phase of growth.

Have an awesome week and keep raising the bar!

Cheers
Paul Farmer
CPA, MAICD
https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

7 April 2018

Follow the Leader

A Deloitte survey found “just 10% of Millennials defined a true business leader as one who is focused on financial results. Instead, more than two-thirds chose strategic thinking, inspirational qualities and interpersonal skills.”

Traditionally, a leader has seen their role as being the one who delivers results, mostly from the corner office having very little contact with those on the ground. Making the decisions in isolation that drive growth, with the organisation expected to ‘follow the leader’ and get on with helping the company grow. Great model… if those in your group, team, organisation, family feel they will just follow this model. With how results are achieved rather than just getting results becoming important, how do we retain quality people to deliver growth?

3 tips to help this happen

We all have a want to be inspired to be successful and feel like we are making a difference. Here are a couple of ways to help you inspire others and get the results you want:

Authenticity – when deadlines are tight and schedules don’t move, being the same person as when things are going well is key. You are who you are and letting those around you see this means they can trust you and your decisions.
Visibility + Credibility = Profitability – spending time with those around you, letting them get to know, like and trust you, will ensure they will be more likely to follow as their interests are being considered.
Answer the “So What” question – by asking those around you to help get things done, you are asking them to assess what their values and beliefs are. By asking “so what” pre empts the reason for taking on the activity and whether the proposed process/outcome ties in those beliefs & values, making it achievable.

This week, look at your process of getting things done in your circles. Are you investing in those you interact with, or merely giving them things to do to meet your targets. Take the time and it will show in your results.

If this resonated, please share with your networks as they also can benefit. To develop these skills further, send “Inspire me” to strategy@mentorisgroup.com.au and we can help you become that leader.

Have an awesome week!

Cheers
Paul
https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

4 March 2018

Leaders Leading

This weekend saw the first of our rugby trial games, played in hot conditions testing both physical and mental strength. Over the course of the trial, the team grew together, developing their culture through backing each other and working out their strengths to create momentum. Leaders, Leading…

Does this resonate and can you relate to work teams you are involved with? Effective leaders are able to build the culture of getting the best out of their team. With both the boss and team members being able to show this leadership, the potential for performance is high and momentum is created.

Here are 3 tips to help you be a Leader, Leading…

Set a clear strategy – teams who are clear on standards, expectations and aligned on the question of “So What?” are more likely to deliver growth. Know where you are headed and why and the team can follow.
Provide structure – having a process for your team to deliver their strategy will allow each member to be clear on their roles. This clarity will foster open communication, collaboration and support as responsibilities will be clear
Take action – talk in the huddle is just talk unless we put that talk in to action. Make that phone call, send that email and do that client visit that will build rapport and help your team get closer to it’s desired results.

This week, ask yourself whether you are using these three tips. If you are then your results should reflect that…. if not, or if you are not getting the results you want, you have some choices to make.

If this resonates, please forward to your networks. If you need to take action and aren’t clear how to send me a note at strategy@mentorisgroup.com.au and we will get in contact.

Cheers and have an awesome week!
Paul

https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

28 January 2018

What’s your Strategy

The first few weeks of 2018 has been hectic… follow up meetings from 2017, proposals, board appointments and proud moments where businesses have seen the value that can be created when we focus on thinking bigger than we currently are. So what’s your strategy?

Through all of these activities, the common theme was getting clarity on your desired outcomes up front to allow a clear path to be created and accountability applied. Keeping one eye on your strategy makes it easier to stay on track.

So how do you set your strategy? Here are a couple of tips on getting clarity:

Start with the Outcome in mind – experiencing the feeling of having achieved all you want at the end of the period in mind gives you the sense of what you will have when you deliver
Tie your plan to what you love – aligning your strategy to your passions makes it easier to push through the challenges. Finding that thing that lights you up about what you do means you will make the extra effort needed to be successful
Take Action – “a strategy on a page without action is merely a picture”. They are your outcomes and it is your journey so get on with making things happen and getting your results.

During this week, set out what things will look like at 31 Dec 2018… what have you achieved, what are you doing, who are you interacting with and what standards are you working at. This will help give you a target to aim for over the coming months.

If this is something you want in your business then get in contact and let’s have a coffee.

Have an awesome week!
Cheers
Paul

https://www.mentorisgroup.com.au

About Paul Farmer, Mentoris CEO and Business Coach

With a background in finance, business strategy and leadership, Paul has built a reputation as a business mentor responsible for getting the best out of business owners and leaders. His calm and measured ways help create an environment where quality results are created, and growth is delivered for any business or large organisation.

For the best business mentor Brisbane and the Gold Coast has to offer, contact Paul Farmer at Mentoris. If you are a business owner seeking business mentoring support from someone with many proven years experience, you’ve come to the right place.

Find Out More

Read more about how we work with you for:

Set your business strategy before others do it for you !

Here are three tips to help you kick this off now:

Constantly Frustrated Leader

Making Sense of it All | Clarity

Lean into the Future

Prioritise Yourself

Am I Going In The Right Direction?

Continue Moving Forward

Follow the Leader

Leaders Leading

What’s your Strategy

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