Imagine this: you’re in an unfamiliar town and you suddenly felt hungry. You decided to go grab a bite to eat not knowing where the nearest restaurant is. You strolled down the street, looking left and right, trying to find the best place to eat. By the time you got there, you realized you’ve spent 30 minutes figuring out where to go, making you a lot hungrier than you were earlier. Unfamiliar with the cuisine, you spent an additional 5 minutes figuring out what to order. And because you’re now starving, you ordered more food than you intended, which led to a higher bill than you initially budgeted. 

The next day, you decided to go to the same restaurant, knowing where the location is and what food to order. The logistics of getting there are now crystal clear. You reached the place, grabbed the menu, and selected the dish you were craving. Since you didn’t pause a beat, you saved half of the time you spent the day before. On top of that, you enjoyed and savored your meal without rushing, which gave you exactly (or more than) what you paid for. Since you finished early, you still have extra time on your hands, giving you the opportunity to run errands and do other important things to make your day more productive.

That’s the difference between every second wasted due to unclear plans.

As leaders, we all know that time is money. To say that it’s of the essence is a mere understatement. In fact, it’s the biggest abstract investment that yields positively concrete results. We all aim to get things done in a faster, more efficient manner. But the biggest obstacle? The lack of clarity. 

Whenever you set a goal, ask yourself these questions:

• Where do I want to go?
• What are the tools I need to get there?
• What strategies do I need to get there fast?
• What tactics should I implement to ensure an efficient process?

Here are 3 key drivers that will give you a tunnel vision towards your goals:

Be Well-Equipped

Having clarity starts with having the right tools. For CEOs, it starts with industry knowledge. Navigating an unfamiliar space is a gamble, especially if you have an entire organization on your shoulders. You can’t just shoot an arrow in the dark and hope for the best. You need to gear up with all the know-hows to hit your target.

Knowing the ins and outs of the industry is paramount if you want to get fast and efficient outputs. Industry knowledge is your roadmap to traverse through different slopes. Most importantly, it’s the best confidence-booster a leader can have. The clarity on what you want to accomplish is the best investment for every CEO.

Focus On One Goal at a Time

Clear your horizon and focus on one goal at a time. The more you divide your time, resources, and energy between goals, the longer it takes for you to accomplish one. Having a clear vision and dedicated system to set an objective is just as important as determining which objective you should target first. 

Clarity on your priorities is key. This establishes the momentum for you to accelerate at an unstoppable pace.

Surround Yourself with Experts

It’s not uncommon for strategies to have flaws here and there. More often than not, it’s the people around you who can give you the clarity you need. No one is immune to errors from time to time and reaching your goals is a collaborative effort that requires the manpower of a village. From strategizing to execution, it takes multiple minds to join together in pushing a boulder up a mountain. An effective CEO knows how to allocate resources, determine the strengths and weaknesses of each member, and distribute labor according to their expertise. While you’re in charge of the steering wheel, keep in mind that your employees produce the fuel. 

When it comes to plan execution, there’s no room for testing the waters. Learn the roadmap well enough until it feels like the back of your hand. Ensure that every stage of your strategy plan is perfectly clear and spotless to make obstacles mere irrelevant bumps. Above all, be confident. you know exactly what to do and how to do it – there’s no reason to doubt yourself.

Originally published on Hackernoon