Winning isn’t for everyone. But it’s for you.

• Are you a bad person?
• Are you single-minded?
• Are you deceptive?
• Are you obsessive?
• Does that make you a bad person?

If this line-up of questions seems familiar, then you have seen Nike’s summer campaign. If you haven’t, here’s a handy link:

This latest ad campaign, featuring fabulous athletes, has raised quite some hair. Yet, Nike’s message focuses on one thing: your mindset matters.

Persistence is the key to success

For managers, being stubborn is often seen as an impediment. After all, the team would not like the imposition of orders, and no one would appreciate single-minded plans that don’t consider any other opinion. When team members feel their contributions do not matter, their motivation and engagement decline.

A reluctance to change can lead to stagnation, preventing the team from adapting to new challenges and opportunities.

But there’s a way to reframe this situation.

Leave stubbornness behind and embrace persistence.

It can translate into a strong drive to achieve goals, even in the face of obstacles and challenges. Managers who are persistent are often more resilient, bouncing back from setbacks and maintaining focus on long-term objectives.

Now, the question is, how does this work?

5 Ways to be Persistent as a Manager

Let’s uncover five ways you can transform your stubbornness into an asset as a manager:

Set Clear Goals and Priorities

First up, set clear, specific objectives that are well-defined and measurable. For example, instead of a vague goal like “improve sales,” set a specific target like “increase sales by 15% in the next quarter.”

Second, ensure that the objectives align with the overall strategic goals of the organization. This alignment helps maintain focus and ensures that efforts contribute to the broader mission.

Prioritize Tasks

Not everything can have the same importance on your palette. To ensure single-minded focus, work along two angles -

Importance vs. Urgency

Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to differentiate between tasks that are important but not urgent and those that are urgent but not necessarily important. You need to focus on tasks that are both important and urgent.

Allocate resources, including time and personnel, based on task priority. High-priority tasks should receive more attention and resources to ensure they are completed effectively.

Create a Roadmap

Setting goals is just step #1; you will need to create an action plan to work on them effectively.

Break down the goals into smaller, manageable milestones. Each milestone should have clear deadlines and deliverables to track progress.

Outline specific actions you need to achieve each milestone. Assign responsibilities and ensure that your team members know their roles and deadlines so that you can remove the less important and urgent tasks from your lists.

Share the Vision

Creation is the job half-done. You need to propagate it next. Clearly articulate the vision and goals to the team. Explain the purpose and benefits of the objectives to ensure everyone understands the larger picture.

What’s more, you can use motivational language and storytelling to inspire and engage team members. Connect the goals to individual and team aspirations to foster commitment in your team members.

Stay Positive

The last one is a long-term step. As you chase big objectives and remain persistent toward them, maintain a positive outlook, even during challenging times. Your attitude will influence team morale and encourage a can-do mindset.

Offer encouragement and support to team members, especially during difficult periods. Recognize their efforts and achievements to boost their confidence and motivation.

By implementing these steps, you can demonstrate persistence while maintaining flexibility and responsiveness. This balanced approach will help you achieve goals, navigate challenges, and inspire teams, ultimately leading to greater success and fulfilment in leadership roles.