Laser Focus Moments: A Leader’s Secret Weapon - The Holton Consulting Group, Inc.

How many times in your leadership career have you thought or said, "If only I could get that moment back"? Maybe it was something you said in a moment of anger during a meeting; perhaps it was the way you berated an employee in front of his/her peers; how about that poor decision you made in the midst of a stressful, pressured deadline?

Do any of these sound familiar? Well, here's the good news! We have a secret weapon that can quite literally eliminate those disaster moments from your repertoire! The weapon is called a Laser Focus Moment.

A Laser Focus Moment allows you to spend intentional time in contemplation and reflection to connect with your Core Abilities, noticing any thoughts, ideas, or whispers of wisdom that occur. It prepares you to be extraordinary!

The research is in ... and it's overwhelmingly positive! The practice of taking a few minutes to consciously breathe, be quiet, and focus on the now moment will help you experience benefits such as:

Enhanced creativity
Improved relationships
Stronger focus and concentration

Reduced stress
Enhanced cognitive skills
Increased problem solving ability

Slowed aging
Improved immune system
Increased energy levels

There are two types of Laser Focus Moments:

Add both of these to your repertoire and watch the difference they make in your leadership ability!

Structured

Scheduled for a specific, uninterrupted block of time
Scripted or a time of introspective silence
Focused to achieve a specific result

Spontaneous

In the moment, unplanned moment of reflective thought
Deep, slow breathing focused on the immediate situation
Short timeframe, designed to focus energy, thoughts, and actions

How To . . .

Regardless of whether you are conducting a Structured or Spontaneous Laser Focus Moment, a few basic guidelines apply:

1
If possible, find a place where you can be uninterrupted.
2
Take a few deep breaths. Breathe in to the slow count of 4; exhale to the slow count of 8.
3
Give your full attention to your breath, being aware of where it is in your body and how your bod reacts to your slow breathing.
4
Once you feel more relaxed and mindful, give your attention to the issue at hand. (If you are using a guided Structured Laser Focus Moment script, focus on the content; if you are conducting a Spontaneous Laser Focus Moment, give mindful attention to the issue.) If you find your mind wandering (i.e., you discover you are thinking about other issues), simply acknowledge it and bring your attention back to the issue at hand.
5
Mentally ask yourself, "What ideas and thoughts am I having about this issue?"
6
When you have finished your Laser Focus Moment, reflect on the ideas and thoughts you had, and capture them in some kind of journal (notebook or online tool).