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By: Dale Allan Horita on Wed Mar 12, 2008

There are many lessons awaiting extraction like rich veins of gold from the earth’s hidden core, that one can learn from the importance of focus. One may learn that focus is a crucial element in many aspects of life: creating a business, on the play field, and even in our own inter-personal relationships.

"Concentration is the secret of strengths in politics, in war, in trade, in short in all management of human affairs." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The first benefit of focus can be found in one of the larger challenges of existence. When we face these larger challenges, it can either spur us on, or break us down, either as individuals or a team. The lesson to be extracted, like that rich vein of gold, is that we must learn to focus on developing solutions for challenges. Utilizing such time-tested tools as brain-storming, solution developing and prioritization can empower us as individuals, or as team-members, to remove any distractions that stand in our way.

The second benefit I will impart is that focus can allow individuals or a team to clearly delineate the problems central to the challenge or challenge in a clear and effective manner. Maintaining focus, the team or individuals rise to the occasion, detailing the possible, primordial causes of the problem. Such activities, like exercises or stretching for an athlete, can bring an uncommon cohesion to the team, and allow ease in workplace matters. Support for each team member will follow.

The third benefit of focus is the manner in which it enables the team to leverage each other’s strength. One example, in a business team, the development department can focus on methods of corporate branding, while the finance department can focus on responsible and efficient management of pre-existing capital and financial resources for the company. Such specialization, the backbone and very genius of the bureaucratization, provides great improvement and success for a team, and maximizes effort.

And the fourth and final great benefit of focus is as a great test for individuals and the team as a whole when facing adversity and challenges, common enough obstacles to success in the corporate and small-business world, alike. We must not shirk from adversity, nor devolve into the petty squabbles of diversity, it’s often been said, and it rings true. Methods and strategies utilized to overcome challenges and road-blocks include removing resistance to constructive feedback, monitoring team development, and yes, even celebrating success and achievement as a team. Such methods lead to better team efforts immediately and in the future, and provide individual satisfaction that can only come from immersion in a thing bigger than one’s self, but respecting of the individual attributes a team member brings to the table.

Overall, it is possible to realize that focus provides significant results for team growth, and for individuals, and I wish you well in your voyage.



Dale Allan Horita is a management consultant and personal growth expert operating in Van Nuyes, California, and the author of "Help: Shackles Of The Mind."