Keep It Simple

Published in Press & Journal – Your Job Section

This week Karran Bonner addresses the topic of keeping it simple in business and life. Simplifying things in all elements of your life will improve your results.

Will Smith is an inspiration thought leader and one of his most inspiring sentiments is ‘that we all make life so much more complicated than it needs to be.’ We often read too much into things, hold grudges or don’t say things because we are scared we may offend. Keeping it simple is an approach that I always talk to my clients about so I have put together three top tips to help you keep it simple. It would be great to hear your thoughts on these so please do get in touch with other similar ideas or feedback.

Simplify your vision

If your company vision doesn’t roll off your employees’ tongues it is too complicated. Absolutely, have a substantial business plan but simplify your company’s vision and strategy into simple terms that all of your employees will understand. My mission at Brightside is to ‘inspire people to be the best they can be.’ It is easy to remember and clients associate easily with it.

Ask for Feedback, Listen & Act

Ask people for feedback, check in with them regularly and ensure that all employees have a voice. Once you have asked for feedback ensure you respond, follow up and keep people updated with progress. So many organisations are great at asking people for feedback but then don’t continue the communication loop and people feel like they have input ideas and nothing has happened with the ideas. Listening is one of the most important skills you will learn in your life, to truly hear what people are saying. We are all born with the ability to hear but to listen is a learned skill. Sometimes using your intuition to question further when you think someone isn’t giving you the full story or may be leaving things unsaid can simplify things up ahead. Taking action is what builds trust to ask for feedback, listen and act.

Keep Clear Records

Keeping clear records will help you to understand what is working for you and what is hampering success. A personal journal will help you to identify what is aiding your personal success and what is holding you back when you are less motivated. Similarly keeping clear records of what is working for you in key business areas will help your progress. Answering these simple questions will help you to identify positive trends.

  • What motivated you today?
  • What drained your energy?
  • What would you like to do more of?
  • What has brought in most business?
  • What is working well with clients?

Also, clarity on where your business or team is against targets and financially is really important. Keeping clear track on a visual white board can be a driving motivator for team’s to achieve success. Measuring success is where we as individuals often fail. Athletes constantly measure performance to achieve optimum performance and work with coaches to achieve their best. In the workplace using similar techniques can catapult your team to success.

 

By following these simple top tips in your life and business your results will improve. It would be great to hear your feedback around top tips which support your development, contact me on info@brightsideinspiration.com to discuss further.

 

Keep it simple this weekend.