There are lots of sports metaphors about Focus. Things like “Keep your eye on the ball,” and “Don’t look past today’s game.” The best focus aphorism I know comes from an athlete, but is sound life advice for all of us, especially leaders. Yogi Berra is quoted as having said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” This quote always reminds me of those of us who wander aimlessly through malls or airports walking in one direction while we are looking in a different one. These folks inevitably bump into someone or something as they blunder about.
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Leaders can fall into this category. Although they may have a direction in mind for their teams and organizations, it is easy to become distracted by “shiny objects,” and before they know it they are not looking where they are going. What they end up bumping into is failure. Whether on the field of play or the business arena, focus is essential to success. It is tempting to look around, but in general it is good advice to look in the same direction you are walking.
