Great Lakes Wire

Leaders often encounter numerous opportunities and challenges that demand their attention. The concept of focus is crucial but frequently misunderstood. Steve Jobs once said, “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

In human resources and leadership, this insight holds significant value. There is pressure to address every trend and request, which can lead to inefficiency. True focus requires discipline and knowing when to decline distractions, even if they appear beneficial.

Leaders and HR teams often spread themselves too thin by trying to tackle every challenge simultaneously, leading to burnout and disengagement among employees. When focus diminishes, so does execution capability. Effective leadership involves setting clear priorities and adhering to them.

To incorporate Jobs’ philosophy into leadership and HR strategies, several principles can be followed:

Define core priorities: Identify the top three initiatives that will have the greatest impact on your organization.

Say no to misaligned ideas: Avoid pursuing innovative ideas that do not align with your core mission.

Empower team focus: Encourage organizational focus by ensuring employees are not overwhelmed with competing priorities.

Measure impact over busyness: Focus on outcomes rather than activities for productivity.

Continuously reassess: Regularly evaluate focus areas for relevance and impact as business needs evolve.

The challenge lies in having the courage to reject what does not matter. Saying no creates space for transformative work, enabling meaningful change and innovation in workplaces.

Focus should be redefined as a discipline of subtraction rather than addition. Leaders must consider what they will say no to today.

By Mary E. Corrado, courtesy of SBAM-approved partner, ASE.

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