Several times this year I’ve tried to distil things. I had a go at writing an engagement manual in fewer than 100 words. I’ve tried to be energetically lazy by focussing on what is the least I can do today to make a positive impact. I even had a reasonable attempt at condensing my experience at the fantastic ConnectingHR unconference into a song lasting just under a minute.

Now I’m going to turn up the wick. I want one word to aim for in 2011. And for me, that word is flow.

Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energised focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. It’s about harnessing emotions in the service of performing and learning. It’s exciting – and for me, hard to attain. You can read more about this positive psychology concept here.

Why is it hard to attain? Simple. I’m easily distracted. So as a way of dealing with distraction I’m narrowing my focus, and getting into the flow. If I can do this well I hope it will mean I retain the levels of excitement and opportunity that I’ve co-created and that have come my way in 2010. And I will help make things happen more effectively, simply and enjoyably than before. Well you’ve got to have a dream eh!

Flow. My word for 2011. What’s yours? I’d love to hear from you and maybe we can check back in on this idea periodically and see how it’s going?

Have a great day – Doug