There are two basic types of people in the workplace. Those who are in motion and those who are in achievement. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Never confuse motion with action.” Have you ever noticed how everyone seems to have their own definition of immediate? These discrepancies in immediacy can be a big disconnect and momentum killer. The thing about momentum is that it begets more momentum, and the best way to start is to start now. Ideas and goals are plentiful, but execution not so much.
 
I’m a big proponent for never taking your foot off the gas which takes having a sense of urgency and consistently acting on your goals. From what I’ve noticed more and more people are operating in the unaccountable world of motion, a spin cycle. It’s as if they want all the accolades and credit, but none of the responsibility. Here’s the deal, when you have a good idea, enact it now. Don’t wait, because time kills deals. And sometimes you may have to buck the system a little to nudge things along. As Einstein once said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” Don’t wait for permission, act, and then beg for forgiveness later. Yes, I said that… 😊

I’ve seen many ideas that never get off the ground because distractions get in the way of moving off square one. Set the goal, create the plan, and then enact the plan. Momentum is an inclusive endeavor that involves every team member. It also takes a champion who is all in on the idea and has the urgency and authority to push things along. Otherwise, you lose momentum. Adopt having a sense of urgency in all you do, because a lack of urgency is indicative of lack of empowerment, which leads to lack of momentum, which leads to lack of accomplishment. Set lofty goals and consistently monitor forward movement which ensures you maintain momentum. Doing so, will separate you from the 90+ percent. In the end, our biggest regrets are not from our actions, but our inactions. 

Momentum starts with commitment and can be easily gained or lost. Good leaders find a way to sustain momentum, but great leaders amplify it. So how do these great leaders amplify momentum not only for themselves but with their team members? It starts with passion. What are you passionate about, and what are your team members passionate about? Here’s a key. The passion for one needs to be the same for all. 

Leadership needs to instill their vision into the team they serve. You may be asking; how will you know if you have been successful in doing so? Trust me, you will know. It’s when your team members mirror your passion. It’s when you can sit back and admire their buy-in. It’s almost like your work is done here, but it’s never done. Not if you want to keep momentum. I call it “Never taking your foot off the gas.”

A momentous leader needs to be nimble, and able to adapt quickly, virtually changing direction on a dime. None of this dogged ego-based stuff. I’ve seen way too many organizations that fall victim to this type of leadership where trust is carte blanche and placed in the hands of leaders who are underqualified, have an agenda, or have closed their minds. 
Momentous leaders keep their egos in check and stay completely open to the genius of the people around. They are humble and self-aware, knowing they don’t have a corner on the knowing what to do market. They also keep team members focused on the end goal and remove any distractions or impediments to expeditiously reaching the attainment thereof.
 
One of the biggest momentum killers is lack of clarity of purpose. I have been involved in efforts where leaders cannot articulate what they are doing, why they are doing it, or where they are headed. This is more common than you think. When I ask them to share their plan, there is usually a reluctance, and when I finally see a copy of it, I can see why. Normally, the document is recycled, boiler plated, and nebulous at best. It could have been applied in virtually any situation. Like no real thought went into its design. What’s disappointing is that these leaders were entrusted to deliver something of significance, but instead delivered nothing but time-wasting fluff. Here’s the deal. If you can’t quickly state the end goal as well as a general idea of how to get there, then there is a problem.