4 Simple Ways to Build Momentum in Your Organization

Momentum. It’s the force that propels you forward at a rate greater than what you initially invested. When you have momentum, it’s your best friend; but creating momentum always meets resistance.

There are four forces constantly fighting to hold back your momentum:

• What’s known
• What’s safe
• What’s easy
• What’s comfortable

To overcome these forces, master these four factors that fuel momentum.

1. Momentum Is Ignited by Vision

The very essence of leadership is a compelling vision.

One of the biggest mistakes most leaders make is to undervalue the power of vision.

If you lack momentum, it’s very likely that your team lacks vision. So if you want momentum, you need to share your vision with your entire team.

Your vision must be clear, consistent, compelling, and give the “why” behind every “what.” Learn the three questions that will help you write an inspirational vision statement.

In every scenario, lead with vision.

When you think you’ve shared enough vision, you’re just getting started—because “vision leaks and culture drifts.”

Vision and culture need to be consistently bolstered or they’ll fade away.

Warning: The more compelling your vision is, the more progress you’ll make. The more progress you make, the more options you’ll have. The more options you have, the more you'll be tempted to lose focus—which is the fastest way to lose momentum.

2. Momentum Is Activated by Faith

You and your team have to believe that what you’re called to do is imperative and possible.

You might have a dozen good reasons why you aren’t accomplishing your vision, but here’s a hard reality about those excuses: You can make excuses or you can make progress, but you can’t make both.

If you don’t believe something is possible, you’ll prove that it’s not.

If you want to build momentum, find a way to increase your faith that you will succeed at whatever it is you’re called to do.

3. Momentum Is Supported by Systems

If you want to win, you need to create the intentional systems that support, sustain, and propel your mission forward.

The right systems will sustain your momentum, but the wrong systems will hurt your momentum.

What is a system?

A system is how you accomplish your what. It’s who does what, when, and how.

If you want a specific result, you need to build an intentional system to accomplish that result.

If you don’t love your current systems, know this: Your systems are a combination of what you expect and what you allow. So if you want different systems, change what you expect and audit what you allow.

Here are a few podcast episodes in which I share strategies for building great systems:

Episode 77: Defeating the Four Enemies of Growth, Part 1

Episode 78: Defeating the Four Enemies of Growth, Part 2

Episode 112: Do More, Invest Less—Learning to Bend the Curve

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to create all the systems as a leader. If you’re clear about what you expect, you reward it when you see it, and you correct it when you don’t, the team will build the right systems within those rewards and corrections.

4. Momentum Is Sustained by Resilience

A key ingredient of most successful leaders is not their knowledge, skill, or desire, but their resilience.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back and thrive in the face of adversity.

So how do we grow in resilience?

We start with mindset. You need a mindset that knows leadership is incredibly difficult.

Leading people will be a thrill and a burden.

So if you want to build momentum, develop the mindset that says “I will show back up, no matter how heavy that burden gets.”

Build Momentum with this Five-Part Worksheet

After reading this post, you can probably see why momentum can be your best friend, but the lack of it can be your worst enemy.

I’d love to invite you to take these insights further and learn how to build professional, personal, and spiritual momentum with this practical momentum worksheet.