One of the most frustrating things to encounter as a training and development practitioner is to spend the time and effort to provide our clients with the tools they need to succeed, only to see them not follow through on their training and ultimately no change occurring. Even as I write this I’m shaking my head at the thought of it! So why is it that even the best designed intervention often fizzles away, losing its steam as work behaviors return to business as usual? One big reason is that we are competing for our clients’ time and attention with a whole host of distractions and other obligations.
Many of us know all too well how our days can quickly get off track. And who can blame us? Our phones are practically mini-computers. We get constant “ding” and “ping” noises occurring all around us, triggering us to check our email, text, or social media accounts. Oh yes, accountS with a capital “S”—whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Google+, LinkedIn, or that yet-to-be-created site. And if you work at home, which is an ever growing way to work these days, you also have the doorbell, those dirty dishes, and the dog to pull you away from your work. Distractions like these can not only be an annoyance, they can do real damage to our ability to get anything done at all! They take us away from our work, and away from the high-quality work we do when we are ‘in the zone.’ Every time we come back from a distraction, it takes us time to get back to that zone and, over the course of a day, all that time adds up.
With distracters all around us, how can we help our clients stay on track? After all, we want them to follow through on all those commitments from our training sessions! This looks like a job for the Driver. The Driver is one of four energy patterns of personality measured by an assessment called the FEBI. The Driver is a pattern that gets things done, is laser focused, challenges others, and loves to win. It is a pattern that embraces competition, pushes through barriers, and sets stretch goals. In other words, the Driver is a warrior, fighting against the destructive force of distractions and making sure we get the job done! It is certainly true that, like any personality characteristic, people vary in the degree the Driver shows up in them. But the good news is that with a little practice, we can help our clients increase the power of the Driver to keep them on task and get the job done.
Here is your first lesson: To engage the laser focus of the Driver while sitting at your desk, start by planting your feet on the ground. Really feel into the ground beneath you, especially through the balls of your feet, sitting on the edge of the seat as if you were ready to jump up at any moment. As you do this, put your hands together and with your two index fingers, and point to a spot in front of you, staring down your fingers to the spot with intense focus. Continue to press down with the balls of your feet. Now, pay attention to how this feels, having uninterrupted focus on this single point. Physically, you may notice your brow furrows and your hands naturally push against each other. Emotionally, you may feel strong, powerful, and focused. Take this same intense focus with you as you go back to your agenda. Ask yourself, “What’s next?” Then, with your newly energized Driver to focus, EXECUTE!
To learn more about the FEBI visit www.focusleadership.com.
