Opportunity thinking vs Obstacle thinking
There is a great saying that goes something like this, "You can't control the wind, but you can adjust the sails." As a business manager this is the type of thinking you need to embrace if you want to see success. The idea is that the things you have no control over should be recognized as out of your hands, but rather than viewing them as obstacles, view them as opportunities. If the market is slow, look at it as a challenge to find a new way of engaging customers, or improving your product. If you can do this, you will bring your business to new heights.
1. Think of challenges as opportunities for progress. Ask yourself what you can learn from the experience. It is a whole new way of thinking, but one that becomes far more productive. It is easy to get bogged down in the challenges that face modern business managers and businesses. However, deciding that you will look at those challenges as opportunities for progress will help you to actually be able to progress. Learn what you can, strengthen areas that need strengthening, expand your views, and then let the rest go.
2. Evaluate your thinking patterns. Are you a predominantly negative thinker? Or a predominantly positive thinker? You should be focusing on positive outcomes. While planning for the worst, you should be hoping for, and expecting the best. If you need to, adjust your thoughts so that they become more positively focused. This will help motivate and inspire those whom you lead. Remind yourself daily (possibly with reminder notes) to focus on opportunity thinking rather than obstacle thinking. It may not be an easy change, but it is certainly worth the outcome.
3. Be the example for your company. Leaders lead by example. If you want others to look at obstacles as opportunities, you have to blaze the trail of this kind of thinking. You have to be the first one to stand up and say that the poor market conditions are the ideal opportunity for your company to develop something new to impress and engage customers. The best managers know how to lead by example.
4. Positively reinforce opportunities for growth. When your company has a setback, or a specific employee does, remember that this is when you need to step in and positively reinforce it not as a setback, but as an opportunity to expand, grow, and become more than you were before. Make this your motto, and constantly reinforce it.
5. Remember, weaknesses are opportunities to improve, market problems are opportunities to gain market share. Make sure your employees remember this as well and that it is the focus of your planning. Self evaluate and determine to outline your weaknesses and focus on improving them. If you do this as a team and do it regularly, you will find that your thinking will change to opportunity thinking, and the results will be favorable.