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How to Decide What to Focus on in Your Business
One of the best things about being a business coach is working with so many ambitious, creative thinkers. My clients are rarely short of ideas.
Usually, there’s masses they want to do, numerous projects they’d like to explore, and a never-ending list of products and services they hope to launch. I admire their passion, and the way their minds’ work, but I see the downsides of this situation too. Clients often come to me because they feel stuck. Idea generation isn’t an issue but deciding what to focus on in their business keeps tripping them up.
Why is Finding Focus So Important?
Finding focus isn’t about stifling your creativity or forcing you to ignore good ideas. It’s about using your time and energy in an intentional, considered way.
Often, when we’re trying to do too many things at once, we end up making less progress overall. Focussing on a few key goals or working to improve one aspect of your business at a time usually leads to improved efficiency and performance. Rather than supressing innovation, a focussed approach can help you identify gaps or new opportunities within your industry, driving innovation forward.
Finding focus also reduces the risk of burnout. By prioritising tasks and resisting the temptation to do everything at once, you’re taking steps to protect your health and wellbeing. The ability to consistently deliver high quality work is a welcome side-effect of this.
How to Decide What to Focus on in Your Business
1. Define Your Vision, Values and Goals
If you want to adopt a focussed approach, you’ve got to know what you’re working towards. What do you want your life to look like? What personal values do you want to see reflected in your business? And what does success look like to you? Read How to Set Goals and Be Gentle with Yourself and Defining Success When You’re Building a Lifestyle Business for more on this.
Once you’re clear about your vison, values and goals, you can filter ideas through the framework they create. Ask yourself, will this move me closer to my vision? Does it align with my values? Will it help me achieve my goals? If the answer is no, it could be a sign to park the idea and focus on something else.
2. Analyse Your Business and Market
The things you choose to focus on also need to make sense for your business. For example, there’s no point creating a product or service your ideal clients don’t need. This is where market research and competitor analysis come in.
I’d also encourage you to consider your business’s strengths and weaknesses. You might decide to focus on things you already excel at. Alternatively, this process could help you identify areas you need to focus on improving.
3. Prioritise, Plan and Execute
If you’re struggling to prioritise tasks, projects and ideas, one way to do this is to rank them in terms of impact. Start by choosing a criterion that makes sense for you. For example, you could consider their impact in terms of their potential to achieve your goals or generate income for your business. Alongside this, assess the time and energy it will take to execute them. Ideally, you want to focus on things that can have the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time while expending as little energy as possible!
Once you’ve identified your priorities, it’s time to develop a plan of action. For tips and advice to help you with your next steps, read Stop Strategising, Start Doing! – 5 Ways to Gain Clarity and Take Action in your Business
I Want You to Thrive
I’m passionate about helping people define the life they want, so they can follow their dreams and build a business that matches their vision. Together, we can untangle your ideas, identify your priorities, clarify your goals, and create a plan. Learn more about 1:1 Business Coaching here or get in touch to discuss your options. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.