We all have plans in life.

Whether it’s a long-term business strategy or planning a menu for a family dinner, it is but natural for individuals to sit down and think it over. People with good leadership skills always plan; it is part of who they are. Depending on the scope of your plans, the thinking, and planning period may take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of months– even years. It is the prospect, the excitement of attaining the desired results that keep people excited when planning.

You make plans to save up for a year to buy a new car. You set your mind on surfing the internet for a dessert recipe for your mother’s birthday. You plan to venture into a home-based business with dreams of expanding in a few months.

The problem is no matter how great your plans are there is always that risk of being sidetracked. While it’s totally impossible to remove all distractions, prior preparation and good leadership skills can help you stay on track. 

Here’s what you can do next time you get sidetracked:

• 1. Accept that other people’s opinions may be as good as, or even better than yours. Don’t consider yourself superior to other people, just because you’re the boss. Next time one of your plan fails, be open to accepting suggestions from your team and even from other teams. 
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• 2. Never make decisions when you are angry or anxious. People tend to think and react differently when faced with stress. Give yourself a chance to relax and calm down when a plan fails, or when things don’t pan out as expected. Making hasty decisions will make things worse and prevent you from getting back on track.
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• 3. Don’t get stuck stressing out on the nitty-gritty details of a situation. It would help to pause and look at the bigger picture. If you have good leadership skills, you’ll be able to look past the mundane details and see the heart of the problem.
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• 4. Keep your personal ethical standards above all else. Great decisions are always founded on honesty and integrity. A few shortcuts and white lies might help you succeed quickly, but whatever you do will eventually catch up to you. And when it does, you will be sidetracked- big time! 
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It is so easy to lose sight of your goals and dreams. It can happen to anyone, even to successful leaders and entrepreneurs. In running a business, managers with good leadership skills are highly prized because of their ability to keep everyone on track. Being able to rise above unexpected situations that may otherwise sidetrack you and your team will pave the road to success.