Throw your to-do list away

You don’t need to get through your to-do list, focus on managing your priorities instead.

With changes happening regularly, sometimes hitting us daily, challenging our focus and shifting our plans, you can pretty much toss that to-do list out the window.

These days our weeks are anything but predictable, yet our work must continue.

So, how do we continue to adapt to our still-changing environment?

We do this by identifying and re-evaluating our priorities.

Pre-pandemic, you may have been planning on launching a new product or expanding into a new market. The pandemic has caused companies to shift and re-focus to ensure that everyone can work in a safe manner and ensure they can provide services to their customers safely and responsibly.

We now see new goals have replaced old ones such as instead of trying to launch a new product, some businesses are trying to sell enough to stay open when consumer spending might be down in their industry.

Sure, the website re-brand you were planning is important and the updates to the operating manual, but checking in to evaluate your highest priority as a company right now and regularly will serve you well and continue to help your company adapt to still-changing conditions.

In a world where a school closure can turn your workweek upside down or a changing restriction alters how you do business, your time is valuable.

I invite you to ask yourself regularly, are you and your team spending it on the best, most important work right now?

I want to caveat this with the fact that if business is great for you right now, keep going! Go through with that re-brand and update your ops manual, if that’s your priority. Those are important — I am in no way knocking what those can mean for a business.

However, if you and your team are stretched and faced with new or consistent challenges, that’s an opportunity to go back to basics. Step back and look at the most critical responsibilities right now.

Identify your priorities, ensure everyone on your team is aware, and let go of the rest….just for now.

I am seeing remarkable things from business leaders right now. I’ve seen creativity, resilience, honest communication and consistent communication, and remarkable adaptability. I applaud business owners and their teams for their efforts this year.

While we haven’t reached the finish line in this pandemic, it’s in sight.

Yet, there are still environmental factors that are beyond our control right now.

Continue to reflect, connect with your teams, and connect with your customers to understand what YOUR business priorities need to be right now.

Focus on those first. Then move to the rest…when you’re able.

NOW is YOUR time.

Ariana

PS. If you’re a business owner, there’s no need to feel like you’re alone navigating the complexities of running your business at this time. Let’s have a conversation.