If we take this in a business-centric, mildly cynical way, we can come to the conclusion quite rapidly that in order to expect high standards of others, we need to hold ourselves to high standards but, let’s not focus on anything which might be seen as self-serving.
As Mark Cavendish said recently at Le Tour de France – we can focus on the positive aspect of making sure we are the best we can be, or we can spend our time trying to increase the likelihood of someone else failing. Today we are focused entirely on self-improvement. Any additional benefits that follow are bonus material. I also want to get you thinking about the long term effect of holding yourself to a higher standard. There will be more on this to follow too!
I am not alone in my belief that the most morally sound companies will, to call on Simon Sinek again, be the ones leading the way in the ‘infinite game’. I am not talking about ‘winning’, I am not talking about success right now at this moment in time. I am not talking about the companies or individuals who do a good job of making up for a bad start. I am talking about the people and businesses which will stand the test of time beyond anything we have seen so far. Businesses and ideas that will outlive their creators and reputations that far outlive an individual’s existence on this mortal plane.
Before I digress and delve into a world far more conceptual than three minutes of reading can grasp, I want to stress how important having good moral standing is in the modern world. If you haven’t already, have a scan over my posts on empathy and instant gratification, there is a lot of crossover.
It is too easy to base our decisions on other people’s experiences, influences, success or perceived happiness. Making our decisions based on our own morals which have evolved to be unique to us and our position in the world will ensure that at no point do we feel we could have done more or should have done less to get to where we want to be. Our moral foundations tend to be less fluid as well meaning we are less likely to get swept up by trends or fads and stability is a massive benefit to us all. Many companies (and people) portray a morally-sound image, it is your responsibility to ensure it is not just portrayal though. Genuine, deeply-rooted morals and principles are the key to success, happiness and mental-wellbeing.
It takes character, grace, patience, mental fortitude and a host of other skills to effectively hold yourself to such a high standard. It requires you to assess yourself regularly and make changes equally so. It also requires you to listen and adsorb rather than react and distort. Don’t judge; learn. Don’t envy; grow.
The by-product of this approach? Success. Measure it how you will but, by constantly doing the right thing according to your central philosophy, you will achieve what you want to achieve and in a way you are happy with. The path may be interesting, the destination itself may change, but you will achieve your goals and with an increased understanding of yourself and those around you. This will also help develop a network of people and connections who can and will support you throughout.
The goal of this blog post is not to have you beat yourself up for anything which has or hasn’t happened. It is also not to suggest that you need to work out a full ‘moral game plan’. As with all of these topics, the goal is to have you think about things. Think about how you operate, what kind of person and/or business you want to be. Successful leadership is about making the small changes in your life that others want to emulate. Leadership is about forming relationships and by tweaking the little controllables in our daily lives, we can demonstrate almost unconsciously, what it is that makes a great leader.
Leading by example only works if you are the example you want to be in the world.
My next short read is continuing on the theme of high standards and looks particularly at one of the potential challenges of a high-performance culture. If you are worried about some of the challenges of holding yourself to a high standard, it’s definitely one for you!
#communication_is_king #understanding_is_everything
[tLC]
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