The Power of a Clarity Break

• Topic: Getting clear

• Time: 5min

• Takeaway: Clarity provides confidence on direction and action

• Tool: Clarity Break™

• Tip: Ask powerful questions to get powerful answers!

• Try: Prioritize and protect a 15min Clarity Break into your calendar RIGHT NOW for this week!

*Would you rather watch a video than read an article? Check out my video (23min)

*For a deep dive into this topic, check out my other article:

The Power of Clarity | LinkedIn *How to mind map!

What is a “Clarity Break” and why is this ABSOLUTELY necessary for an effective leader?

• According to Henry Ford, [Strategic] “Thinking is the hardest work there is which is probably the reason so few engage in it" (Wickman, 2016, p. 73).

• At its core, a Clarity Break is strategic think time.

• It’s an idea created by EOS Worldwide about taking time to get clear!

• Another phrase could be taking time to "sharpen the saw" as Stephen Covey says in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

• Another perspective is thinking about taking time to work ON your business, not just IN your business according to Michael Gerber in “The E-Myth.”

• A Clarity Break is slowing down to focus on the things that are important but not urgent.

• Wisdom says to slow down, then to speed up. Here is an fog analogy adapted from Bobb Biehl:

• What would you do if you had a very fast sports car and you were driving through the mountains, but suddenly you hit a fog? This is a dense fog. Would you speed up? Not likely. You would slow down and begin taking it much more carefully. It's the same with your thinking and acting.

• What does it mean to get clear? It means you know what to do and why to do it!

• When you get stuck, you need to slow down and strategically think! Yet, keep taking action. Clarity comes with action! But clarity also comes with perspective.

• It comes with getting away from the day-to-day to think about 90 days plus.

• You can get profound solutions by asking profound questions.

In Summary – what is a Clarity Break?

1. Strategic Think Time! (Maxwell)

2. Taking time to sharpen the saw (Habit 7 – Covey)

3. Working “ON” the Business (E-Myth – Gerber)

4. Slowing down to clarify priorities (Bobb Biehl)

5. Time away to focus! (Bobb Biehl)

6. Time to create clarity & confidence (Wickman)

7. Space & place for improving your effectiveness as a leader (Habit 2 – Covey)

Why is a clarity break so important for effective leadership?

1. Clarity allows you to see better.

2. Clarity allows you to see further.

3. Clarity allows you to see faster.

4. Clarity allows you to lead yourself better.

5. Clarity allows you to lead others better.

6. Clarity allows you to lead with confidence and courage.

7. Clear is kind.

8. Clarity allows you to be open and honest with others.

9. Clarity allows you to take action.

10. Clarity allows you to slow down.

11. Clarity allows you to speed up.

12. Clarity allows you to be wise and considerate.

13. Clarity allows you to stay focused!

In summary, as Wickman says in one of his Clarity Break Thoughts, "Keeping your head clear, your confidence high, and your focus strong is vital in growing your company" Dawn Abbott states, "A clarity break is an effective method that helps business owners get recentered and overcome business frustrations"

How do you take a “Clarity Break” and what do you do during that time?

• Take some time each week to stop being so busy with the day-to-day and focus on big picture! Get out of the office! Go for a power walk! Change your environment. Take a blank notepad with you and a couple of pens. Turn off all your distractions and get quiet enough to seriously think!

• Here is a list of some questions to consider reflecting on during your Clarity Break. This was taken from Gino Wickman’s great book on “How to Be a Great Boss!” on pages 74-75. 

1. SELF = What can I do to be more proactive instead of reactive?

2. SELF = What is my top priority this week? This month? This Quarter? How will I stay on track and create focus for myself?

3. SELF = Am I focusing on my most important things? What are those?

4. VISION = How is your Vision and Plan for your Business and/or Department doing? It is on track or off track? What needs to change?

5. VISION = What's the number one goal for your Business and/or Department?

6. PEOPLE = Do I have the Right People in the Right Seats?

7. PEOPLE = What can I do to be a better team leader? How can I communicate better? What specifically would improve my effectiveness in the area of communication?

8. PEOPLE = Who is the one person that I need to move this quarter? What would that do?

9. PEOPLE = How strong is my bench? What can I do to strengthen it?

10. PEOPLE = What happens if I lose a key player? Do I have someone that could fill their spot?

11. PEOPLE = Who are my direct reports? Do I know them well enough to best help them? What motivates each of them? Do I know what they love doing and what they are great at? If not, how can I get to know them better for better people placement?

12. PEOPLE = Am I leveraging my team's strengths in the best way?

13. PEOPLE = What can I delegate to others on my team to be more effective with my time

14. PROCESS = What processes are working really well? What processes are not working so well? What do I want to do about that?

Quick Tips:

*Try this...

• Setting aside time on your calendar (prioritize and protect it!)

• Getting out of your office and going to a quiet place where you aren’t distracted (go for a walk! get outdoors, change up your environment!)

• Focusing “on” the business or "on" yourself

• Asking specific questions like, "What's becoming more clear?" "What am I learning about myself?" "How can I celebrate the wins?"

• According to Daniel Moshe, try ending your Clarity Break with a quick evaluation looking at what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve the next one

*Avoid this...

• Putting it off. (Instead, keep your commitment with yourself!)

• Having electronics around that might distract you (exception is if they help you focus, keep them! Example: using a voice recorder of some sort to talk out loud)

• Trying to solve everything in one Clarity Break (Instead, keep it simple, focus on one idea at a time)

Challenge:

***Take out your calendar RIGHT NOW and block in a 15min Clarity Break!

***Once you have completed this, direct message me the answer to this question: "What became more clear?"

Resources:

*This tool was adapted from EOS Worldwide in the book “How to Be a Great Boss” by Gino Wickman and Rene Boer

*This article was created on October 19th, 2023, by Charlie Rhea, Develop To Empower LLC, All Rights Reserved

*Additional references:

• Lead Now: Why A Clarity Break Is More Important Than Ever (eosworldwide.com)

• The Importance Of Clarity Breaks (eosworldwide.com)

• Why You Need a Clarity Break (eosworldwide.com)

• Five Questions to Pose to Yourself During a Clarity Break - EOS Worldwide

• The Power of Clarity Breaks for Entrepreneurial Leaders (eosworldwide.com)