Let’s Talk B.O.S.S.!
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Writer and founder of my8dayweek

I love the analogy of comparing the course of a life and of business to a journey, especially an ocean-going type of journey. 

The ocean is VAST.

There are a lot of uncharted waters to explore.

It is a playground for many sea creatures and as “Leaders” we are expected to chart the course.

In doing so, the need to ensure we are looking ahead, beyond the horizon, seeing the bigger picture, and steering the destination of our lives – personally and professionally.

The horizon is the VISION.

It is picturesque and every day we wake up to a beautiful sunset.

Full of hope for what is upcoming; what awesomeness we can project and navigate towards.

Our light is our beacon, and it shines a way for our future days ahead.

It’s majestic.

It’s beautiful.

Many a time, it’s breathtaking.

It’s the beauty of LIFE. All that it encompasses. And we are to ensure we make the most of it.

Embrace our journey with joy, and colour and intentionally choose PURPOSE.

As a Productivity Coach, I look at the “leadership” of a business. I check in to see whether the Captain is steering the ship or charting the course with a thorough check-in. (Business Health and one’s own health are also of utmost importance.)

If they are “doing the work” they will typically steer the ship, doing the necessary work, getting into the nitty-gritty, undertaking something that is not published on social media but usually the “heavy lifting” required to ensure the projects are afloat and kicking big and exciting goals.

At times, in steering the ship, we can only see as far as the horizon, and then not so clearly beyond that. 

If a problem arises ahead, we need to be quick to react – to avoid a collision, and sometimes those problems lie below the surface unseen, and the impact is unavoidable and potentially, detrimental. 

This is a huge problem and this can happen when we are letting things slip, not keeping to our plans and promises to ourselves.

Usually words like complacency, laziness, procrastination, and lack of strategy – come into play.

If we are a team, we may be letting someone else, or no one, chart the course. That’s a big mistake, with a big price to pay.

As a leader, we need to foresee the obstacles along the way, because the chart clearly shows the reefs, rocks, islands and the sunken vessels that have gone before. 

The chart will show the navigable passage, and the channel to enter to give the vessel sufficient clearance for an unobstructed journey. 

It identifies the markers (= measures) along the route to tell the Captain they are on the correct course, and the navigation aids confirm the exact location of the desired destination on the journey. 

Hopefully, you will reach a holiday vibe and weekends will not be your only reprieve. It’s really time to plan an outcome that you will love and that gets you excited to do the day’s and week’s work.

Which are you, the “Leader” or the “Manager” in your business and in general, in your personal life? 

It is pretty simple to tell. 

How involved are you in the groundworks, the day-to-day operations, vs the helicopter or even the satellite view? 

The Captain relies on the skills of his crew to steer, keep a lookout, and maintain the operation of the ship, informing each other of any issues along the way. 

Sometimes the course is awkward, and the Captain needs the help of a Pilot to provide expertise and advice for a section of the journey, much like a coach, mentor or advisor.

Let’s be there for each other to navigate and steer our ship in the right direction!

Own the ship, own your ship.

“small things, when compounded over time, tend to have big consequences”