10 ways to better focus on your overview and vision

When working on a task, it is essential to have the bigger picture in mind. Without a vision, there is no overall understanding of the project. It is easy to get caught up into what we think we should be doing or what everybody around us tells us to do instead of focusing on the truly important tasks.

One way to always keep the overview in mind is to start with the big picture – look at what your main yearly goals are. Once you have the yearly goal, you can break it down into monthly-weekly-daily objectives. By continuously focusing on the overall goals and outcomes, it keeps a main thread of progress and sense of achievement.

People tend to either be: detailed oriented or big vision oriented. If you are a detailed person, then keeping in mind the bigger vision at all times is essential, in order not to get lost in the details. However, if you are a broad overview person, then working on your daily tasks to achieve this vision is key to your progress.

In any case, both aspects are complimentary: you need both a vision overview and a detailed plan to reach your outcomes.

How can you keep your focus on the long term and the overview when working on your daily tasks?

-       Draft a vision board encompassing your different projects, your road map, your yearly goals. Keep it somewhere visible and when feeling stuck: ask yourself: does this task contribute to my yearly vision?

-       Brainstorm all your different ideas and select the ones that make the most sense with your business model and that inspire you most

-       If drafting a vision board or yearly goals seems too ambitious. Start smaller – have a theme or outcome for the week or month ahead.

-       Such outcomes can be both personal and professional so explore all options.

-       Inspire yourself from resources: read books such as the happiness project by Gretchen Rubin, or business oriented books such as Goals by Brian Tracy. See what type of goals or outcomes inspire you most.

-       Look at the past: what have you worked on in the past that you derived great satisfaction from? What could you implement now that resembles this?

-       Observe who around you inspires you most and check what you could do to lead a similar life, business. Others are our greatest source of inspiration.

-       Follow your intuition. By listening to yourself, following your intuition – you will notice patterns and tendencies that come up which will give you clarity towards the direction you wish to follow.

-       Look at the themes in your life: relationships, health, business, wealth. Set goals for each category.

-       Take some time out – by pausing in your everyday life, it will help you to gain perspective.

As Stephen Covey explains: ‘Keep the end in mind’ (the 7 habits of highly effective people, habit number 2). Focusing continuously on your current activity with an end goal in mind is both highly effective and a lot more motivating!

Thank you,

Katie.

ps: If you would like more information on how to have a vision for your business, you can write me a private message on LinkedIn and I can give you some more practical advice.