As I was preparing training for a corporate client I realized that so many businesses have it all wrong. Most businesses focus on what their competition is doing. They think that if they figure out what the competition is doing that they can fix their business. Unfortunately this doesn’t work because the business is always one step behind. The focus needs to be placed on the performance of the individuals and how it affects the team. Most of the time it is an “inner game” issue of motivation or focus that gets a business off track. Many businesses are pushing their employees more and more without giving them the necessary resources to do their job. This creates stress, burnout, and lack of focus on the most effective areas. Talking with employees at companies I am reminded that the leadership affects the performance of each employee. It is time to refocus on the most important actions that will lead to the biggest return. The inner game of the employees will improve when they are clear about their role, know why they are doing the tasks, and know this is vital for the businesses’ success. It is easy to get off task and become overwhelmed with the “other tasks” instead of what matters most. The question is not what the competition is doing, but what can each employee do to be more productive.