We know that the greatest successes in business come when we meet the needs of others. This is true in every sector, in every industry. We all admire the likes of Bill Gates, Henry Ford, JP Morgan, Ratan Tata, Walt Disney, J.W. Mariott, Sam Walton, Azim H. Premji and more.
What do they all have in common? Their unwavering desire to meet needs; to fix problems and make things better. And awareness – actionable awareness – is the precursor; the kernel from which needs are revealed.
In the corporate world, without awareness, our vision is limited; we see without really observing. Without awareness, we remain in a bubble, oblivious to the changes around us – unable to recognize real needs waiting to be met. A lack of awareness also hampers the ability to recognize shortcomings or, indeed, capitalize on strengths.
Developing awareness in a corporate setting requires, among other things, effective goal setting, which begins with identifying challenges. It is this defining and crystallization of goals that enables focus and accountability.