Excellence should be a part of every leaders vocabulary. As a leader, we are not called to do a second-rate job at anything. Remember the old adage, “anything worth doing is worth doing well.”
To often I see leaders go through the motions in some of their day to day activities as a leader. Take performance reviews and setting goals for the new year as an example. Many of us have worked with leaders who either did not have time nor the energy or desire to spend quality time with their associates and have an honest two way conversation about performance and goal setting for the following year. These meetings should take time, should be a dialogue and both participants should carefully prepare for the meeting. If your not prepared, call it and reschedule. Be honest! You will be far more productive and it will help to ensure the meeting will be conducted in a way that mutually benefits all parties involved. To often the reviews and goal setting meetings are check off the box activities. That is not demonstrating excellence!
I am currently working with a newly promoted leader with helping them interpret their 360 feedback so they can have a conversation with their boss what strengths they want to leverage and skills to develop for the upcoming year. My client recently told me the boss is far to busy to discuss their development plan for the coming year. Is that my client’s assumption or is that what the boss said. If it is the later, then the boss is not demonstrating excellence. We are working through this issue.
Excellence is a habit, it is a way of life. It takes discipline and perseverance. So, as a leader, I would ask you to think about your personal and professional life and ask yourself, are you doing everything you can that demonstrates first-rate quality in everything you do? Be honest with yourself, you may not like your answers. That’s OK. Being aware is the first step to change your behavior.
Pick two to three activities, define what excellence looks like and develop your own action plan to excel in these areas. Tell someone and have them hold you accountable. As you regularly demonstrate excellence in these areas, pick two or three more activities and work on them. By doing so, you will manifest first rate quality in everything you do. That is leadership!