What is a context?
It is an anchor. A ‘why’. A criteria to pass decisions through.
For example, when entering a food court the decision will depend on your context. Is your context tasty , healthy or cheap? Maybe it is quick, or something new? You’re probably thinking of multiple contexts but there is always a primary one on any given day and that usually determines the decision.
How you spend your time on a rainy vacation day is another example. On a miserable day recently, I needed to decide what to do with three kids under 12. The options were allow them to spend the day ‘gaming’ on their Ipads or take them out. Had my context been ‘easy’, option 1 would have won. My context for the day however was family time so option 2 prevailed and we spent the day jumping on trampolines before enjoying a family meal.
The trick is to be aware of your context before you make your decision. That way you’re making a conscious choice and not reacting to a seductive hamburger or taking the easy way out with the kids!
Being the start of the year is a good time to set a Business context for 2016. There are no doubt 1000 things on your to-do list. Lift yourself above the ‘content’ and challenge yourself to identify your primary ‘context’ for 2016.
Is it to grow? Become more efficient? Enable your staff? Re-energise? etc. You may be tempted to choose multiple but challenge yourself to narrow it to one primary context.
Come hell or high water, what will 2016 be the year of?
Would love to hear from you…