Czaro Strategic Communications

I saw a traffic accident yesterday involving a school bus. My youngest daughter was in the car at the time, and she was concerned because there were five police cars, a TV crew and people standing around texting and talking on cell phones. That’s a lot to take in for a six-year old.

I was troubled because next week my baby will start riding a bus after school, and I didn’t want her to be apprehensive. That evening, I checked on the cause of the accident. Like in many accidents people weren’t paying attention.

The bus driver (with a load of children on board) was talking on the phone – not giving his job the full attention required. He slammed on his brakes, but still plowed into the back of the car in front of him. The two vehicles behind the school bus were traveling too closely and not paying attention. One slammed into the back of the school bus and the other ran into the car in front – a classic chain reaction.

This same situation plays out every day at work. Rather than buckling down and writing that article, you become easily distracted by e-mail, non-essential projects or chit-chat. Instead of focusing on accomplishing goals, companies blame the economy and choose to dwell on why they’ll never hit their targets.

The key to success is focused concentration.

• 10 and 2. If you have both hands on the wheel, you’re not able to hold a burrito, cell phone or MP3 player.  Grab the wheel at work. Create a list of weekly, daily and hourly tasks. Block out time so you can stay on track.
• Anticipate danger. The problem with tunnel vision is that you can only see what’s right in front of you. You need to be aware of what’s going on around you. There may be variables that you can (or cannot) control that will effect your project, work group, department or company. Keep your eyes and ears open.
• Buckle up. Wearing a seatbelt is the law – not a suggestion. At work you need to strap yourself in when deadlines are looming. When are you most productive? Block out the time, buckle up and floor it.
• Look out the windshield. As the economy begins to improve, now is the time to look to the horizon. Many businesses will spend the next year still staring in their rear-view mirrors. They’ll be looking at the past (what once was) instead of into the future (whatever you can imagine). Before they know it, focused companies will be far ahead.

I once heard that long-haul truckers are the safest drivers. They’re aware of their environment, anticipate danger and know exactly where they’re headed. Can you say the same thing about yourself or your company?