I believe one of the most important things I learned from being in leadership groups is the concept of "always be in learning mode." This requires great listening skills. Imagine this: I come to you with a fantastic idea. Why is it fantastic? Because I say so. You listen to my opening statement, "You gotta do this...if we do this, we'll create more sales opportunities than we've ever had in the past... we'll this and that..." At this point, you may or may not be sold on the idea. If you have reservations, you may have stopped listening.  

I want you to keep listening. I want you to sit back, stop glancing at email, stop thinking about what you want for lunch... and listen. With open ears and open eyes. Absorb the idea. Maybe it's a bad idea, but unless you give it your full attention, you will never know. In the end, you’ll learn what's important to me and why I'm enthusiastic about the idea. You might even learn what to say - such as, "Nice job, Yvonne, but have you thought about this..." And, "How will it happen? Who is involved? What will it accomplish?"  

3. And that leads into purposeful intent three... letting go. 

Maybe the idea was yours. Maybe you were the one over the moon about it. Maybe you convinced the rest of the team to get behind it. Maybe...it didn't really work the way you thought it would, and you are still hoping for positive results.  

During a leadership group session many years ago, one member was asked, "How is that working for you?" in response to her marketing program.  

"We're hoping for great results!" she said, as her smile covered her entire face!  

The facilitator gave a nod. "Hope," he said, "is not a plan. How do you plan to achieve great results?"  

You see, planning requires letting go. Anything that has been implemented and not returned a positive result (sales, engagement, brand recognition or loyalty) needs to go. No matter how great you thought it would be.  

Ideas that are stupendously wonderful...but require more manpower, more time, or more budget than you have, can be put "in the icebox"... not dead, nor forgotten, but saved on ice.  

Letting go requires a stalwart character and a true focus on success. You cannot succeed if you do not cull the underperforming ideas, programs, and even people.  

Start 2014 fresh. Start with strategic intent to be purposeful in your work, your planning, and your people. It will make the strategic planning for 2015 all the more powerful a year from now.

To help you further your goals and strategy focus, I'm sharing a great infographic from my friends at VISA Business.