Wednesday 5 March 2014

Why are we obsessed with economic growth?

In Australia recently the treasurers and finance ministers of the world's top 20 economies gathered. There was an obsession at their meeting about economic growth. The meeting ended with a growth target and everyone went away charged with coming up with plans to achieve it.

Why are we obsessed with economic growth? I rhetorically asked my wife as we watched a television interview with Australia's treasurer.

I meet many salespeople obsessed with making sales and yet they are lukewarm about building relationships.

I meet lots of business owners obsessed with making profits and yet they appear to be clueless about building a business that will make profits.

I meet lots of leaders obsessed with increasing employee engagement and yet they are not prepared to invest in the building blocks that lead to such engagement.

Sales, profit, employee engagement, like economic growth, are outcomes. Each one is a lag measure.
What we should be focusing on is lead measures. Please read my blog about lead measures here.

In my view we should be obsessed with following the proven processes that lead to the outcomes we want.

Are you focused on processes or outcomes, lead or lag?

Politicians in Australia right now can't agree on what do about our national airline Qantas not operating in a level playing field. Common sense tells me that if they focused on collaboration instead of politics a win/win/win could be achieved very easily.

What internal politics are in the way of common sense solutions to your business challenges?

My wife and I walk daily and we go to the gym at least twice a week. Inch by inch we reach our goals. Our focus is not on our goals rather the actions that will mean we will achieve our goals as a consequence.

In your personal and business life are you focused on your goals or the actions you know will get you to where you want to be?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian

"Inch by inch is a cinch. Yard by yard too hard."
Terry Jenner


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