Is 2018 going as you predicted?

Once, it may have seemed unproductive to pose that question so soon into a new year. But in today’s rapidly changing times — which I call “accelerated uncertainty” — change happens so fast that little seems predictable.

Since Jan. 1, we have already experienced some surprises in the global markets and politics — and their impacts will likely affect your organization in some way.

This rapidity causes me great optimism! Why am I optimistic about the future? Think about what change brings. It brings opportunity. It brings innovation. It brings growth. It brings evolution. All great things!

It’s time to shift your focus away from the negative aspects of uncertainty. What we all need now is to become great at leading through it. And to get you started, here are four tips you can apply today to improve yourself, your employees and your car wash.

1. Simplify.

No matter how complex a problem or task may seem in work or life, there is a simplicity that exists. It is in the ability to state specifically the desired outcome. The technique called “Leader’s Intent” will help you do this.

Here’s how: Ask the question, “What does success look like?” Come up with three to five answers. For example, your answer may be, “When our customers leave our car wash, we hear only compliments!” You can now identify the outcomes, or end state, you are striving toward. This is also a great exercise for staff alignment, and it’s the fastest way I have found to get everyone in sync when starting an effort.

2. Validate.

The number one issue I find in execution of work is assumptions management failure. This exacerbates the disruption caused by uncertainty to be greater than it should. It leads to wasted effort, personal and team conflict and “fire-fighting” versus working proactively toward the future.

Assumptions are necessary in life, but taking an assumption and turning it into a fact without validating it increases the risk of being wrong and having to re-work the effort. To combat this, there is an approach you can apply today to better 1) identify, and 2) validate the information you are giving or receiving from others.

Here’s how: Whenever you hear the words such as “it should,” “it could,” “I/we think,” “I believe,” then whatever follows is likely an assumption — meaning, this is information that is not validated. So instead ask it: “Has that been validated?” The answer you get lets you know if it has been validated, and from there you can move on to determining how risky it is to proceed before validating it.

3. Focus.

Getting lost in the “weeds” of the day happens to us all. This is when you find yourself only reacting to issues. To regain intense focus (especially important for innovation and problem solving), try The Pomodoro Technique.

Here’s how: Write down a few itemas to work on and set a timer for 25 minutes. Remove all distractions — no email, no calls, no texts, no interruptions. Begin work on your first item; finish then move to the next, and so on. When the timer goes off, stop — no matter where you are in the task. Now leave your space and do something else for 5 minutes — take a break, check email, return a call, but limit this to exactly 5 minutes. Then, do one more Pomodoro (you do them in pairs). In one hour, you can knock out a lot of work due to being focused.

4. Reflect.

Most of us work hard, but how many of us work smart? If you “push through” the days, then you need to pause. Assess what you need to get back into balance. Taking the time to reflect has almost become a guilty pleasure. But we need it to perform at our best.

Here’s how: Focus your mind through meditation. It’s not just for new agers anymore — there is real science behind this, and most high performers today list meditation among their daily rituals. Check out the app HeadSpace for a simple, guided meditation exercise, only 10 to 20 minutes each day.

If mediation isn’t your cup of tea, find another outlet for relaxation: read a book, go fishing, exercise — and make it a scheduled ritual. You will be happier because of it.

Don’t miss Bill Fournet’s sessions on shifts in leadership and workforce, April 27 at The Car Wash Show 2018.