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, Charles Goodyear 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.
Internalizing these goals and having a plan to achieve them keeps us alert and, most importantly, aware. Aware and vigilant in ensuring we are operating in ways which are aligned to our vision — aware of potential pitfalls and deviations from our mission — aware, at a deeper level, of what’s really going on. This awareness then enables us to sift through the clutter; zero in on root causes (not just symptoms); squarely face real problems and challenges, and ultimately achieve optimum results.
Thus, having actionable awareness brings you clarity, focus, and spontaneity. You remain alert and ready to respond to every situation (strengthening your Business resolve) with the totality of mind, body, and spirit (reaffirming a Balance approach), enabling you to align each action with a higher purpose (emphasizing the Beyond). Awareness leads to a deeper and more enduring experience of success, which is precisely what leads to the emergence of the Corporate Sufi.