Monday, February 10, 2020

Discover the Guiding Principals - part #1

When we seek to unify quality, empowerment and principle-centered leadership, we have to pause and ask ourselves and our team a simple, but powerful question:

- What do we want to be known for by our customers, our community, and our employees?

This is not a question to be answered in a tweet. Nor is this a question to be tossed out there in an operations meeting, and then given superficial time and attention to be answered.  

This is the kind of question one sits down with and ponders over an extended time period. It will require good coffee plus uninterrupted time and space for some deep internal reflection. 

Because once we are serious about answering the question, then we must also address the second most important question which, in reality, could be the true first question:

- What kind of person do I want to be known for at work, in the community and within my family?

When we seek to answer these two important questions, we have the potential to uncover the principles that guide our life, be it at work or at home.

As we walk this path, I also encourage you to remember that a successful organization has four pillars, namely people, structure, systems and culture. Once we begin to discover the answers to the above questions, then we can explore whether or not these four pillars are in full alignment with our guiding principles. 

As we engage in deep reflection and generate this level of personal and organizational clarity, we realize the importance of full alignment. We also discover our guiding principles and the importance of integrating them into all that we do, be that at the individual, team, department or whole company levels.

This week, make time to answer the above two questions. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this deep work.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

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