Episode 97 - What is focus and how do we do it?

Battling with Business

In this episode of the podcast, Chris discusses the importance of focus in teamwork and leadership. He shares a personal experience that led him to consider the significance of focus in achieving success. Chris plans to explore this topic further in future episodes, examining its implications for teams, leaders, and businesses. He emphasises the need for individuals and organisations to direct their attention towards specific tasks or goals without being easily distracted, while also avoiding the risk of tunnel vision. Chris highlights the importance of balance between focus and innovation, and introduces the concept of mission focus, where teams are tasked with achieving a specific effect rather than just completing a particular task.

Setting Clear Goals and Staying Motivated
Chris discussed his training for the London Marathon and the importance of setting clear goals. He differentiated between a goal, an objective, and a task, explaining that a goal is a fixed point in time, an objective is a broader life change, and a task is the specific action required to achieve the goal. Chris emphasized the importance of understanding the goal and objective to maintain focus and avoid tunnel vision. He also highlighted the need for personal motivation to continue with his training, despite the challenges of running in the dark and cold.

Exploring Focus: Task, Objective, and Goal
Chris discussed the concept of focus and its various applications. He differentiated between three types of focus: task, objective, and goal. Chris also touched on the personal aspect of focus, suggesting that humans prefer to have a clear understanding of their tasks and goals, which can lead to better outcomes and reduced stress. He shared his personal practice of writing down tasks and goals for the day, and how he adjusts them based on the actual time required for each task. Chris also mentioned that some tasks, like research, are open-ended and may require more time than initially anticipated.

Focus, Problem-Solving, and Creativity in Task Management
Chris discussed the importance of problem-solving and focusing on tasks. He explained that tasks may initially seem simple but can reveal multiple aspects that need to be addressed. He differentiated between convergent and divergent focus, emphasizing that both are essential in tackling problems effectively. Chris also discussed the relationship between focus and creativity, sharing an insight from Rich Seal that creativity often thrives when given constraints. He concluded that focus is about converging on a small number of options to tackle a problem and that prioritization is crucial in this process.

Resource Prioritization and Temporal Decision Making
Chris discussed the importance of prioritizing resources, time, and effort against objectives and goals. He shared his experience in the military, where he had to solve intelligence gaps using surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. He emphasized the need to understand the operating space and to prioritize questions based on the decisions that need to be made. Chris also highlighted the importance of temporal prioritization, where some questions may need to be answered sooner than others. He concluded by mentioning the need to creatively use available capabilities to answer these questions.

Focus, Checklists, and Common Sense in High-Stress Environments
Chris discussed the importance of focus in high-stress environments, using examples from surgeries and aircraft emergencies. He emphasized that checklists can help maintain focus and prevent mistakes, but also warned about the potential for becoming too focused on the wrong thing. Chris also highlighted the limitations of checklists in problem-solving, particularly in unexpected situations, and stressed the need for common sense in applying them.

Tools, Techniques, and Prioritization for Focus
Chris discussed the importance of tools and techniques to help focus in various situations, whether it's a new and novel situation or a closed problem. He emphasized the need for clear direction and understanding of the mission to filter out noise and focus on decisions. Chris also highlighted the importance of prioritization, especially in complex problem spaces where feedback from the operating environment is necessary. He shared his personal experience of making gut decisions during a firefight, emphasizing the need for instinctive responses and quick decision-making. Chris concluded by suggesting that a checklist could be a symptom of the need for focus, rather than the solution itself.

Product Development Prioritization and Focus
Chris discussed the process of prioritizing and focusing on product development in a business context. He emphasized the importance of aligning development with the company's strategic goals and vision. Chris also highlighted the need for a common understanding of value drivers among different functions within the organization. He suggested a framework for prioritizing features, which involves scoring them based on customer value, technical complexity, and strategic alignment. This framework is then used to regularly revisit and update the list of priorities. Chris stressed the importance of this process in achieving focus and making informed decisions about product development.

Prioritization, Decision-Making, and Focus in Various Contexts
Chris compared the processes of firefighting and their own work, emphasizing the importance of prioritization and decision-making. He likened their gut reactions to the muscle memory of their drills, practiced month after month, and highlighted the need for conscious thinking after ensuring physical safety. Chris also discussed the importance of focus and decision-making in various contexts, including military and medical fields, and suggested exploring these topics further in a future discussion. He concluded by expressing gratitude for the participants and encouraging them to share their thoughts and feedback.