In discussions over the years with my management teams and those I have had the opportunity to work with and build training workshops for, I often ask the question, “Who perpetuates an adaptive culture?”
How would you answer that question?
I believe it is each of us. We are each a vital part of an organization, working in alignment with our purpose, mission, vision, and values, embracing change to engage in something bigger and better than our present state. I had the opportunity to witness this exact concept in full splendor during a keynote address some years ago, which caused me to consider my own cultural parallels and those of my team and organization.
I had the honor of speaking at the prestigious Valley Forge Military Academy & College (VFMAC) in Wayne, PA. The audience included the Corp of Cadets, their families, and other distinguished guests. Their monthly Chapel Service is part of the school’s platform to instill its Five Cornerstones into the hearts and minds of its young cadets. My topic was honesty. The day was filled with purpose; the venue was ensconced with a deep-rooted history and culture, and the dialogue centered on values.
The ceremony included a “Regimental Review,” as all the cadets marched past in harmonious synchronicity in their company formations. It was awe-inspiring to witness such a diverse, young group of people singularly focused on perfection and excellence. I shared with the audience that one of my first observations as CEO was the need to articulate a vision and mission, then define our company values. Honesty and trustworthiness became major factors in creating a new culture.
Like all of us as leaders and many companies, we may not be steeped in our own history and traditions, we are developing them. For instance:
• We may begin all meetings with a Safety Share, Growth Tip, and Policy Reading, which sets the tone for our culture and brings a consistent focus on Our Values.
• We may have appearance standards—both for staff functions and customer-facing employees because we know our image conveys trust and professionalism.
• We may regularly discuss Our Values across the enterprise as it helps ensure alignment in thought and action.
• We may still be forging a path to transform the Company for success in the same way we are lifelong learners of our leadership craft.
To use a term from UCLA Coach John Wooden, I believe we are all striving for “competitive greatness,” which Coach Wooden describes as “Being Your Best When Your Best Is Needed.”
Like the VFMAC cadets, we are focused and ready to face our future challenges with discipline, determination, and honesty of purpose. I eagerly accepted this speaking engagement because these opportunities provide a mutual learning experience. It establishes goodwill in our communities and insight into their unique organization and challenged me to look deeply at our organization. It is also a great source of talent and business opportunities as potential decisionmakers and leaders get a glimpse of our Company. I was truly honored to represent our character and values.
If you choose to lead, you will need to be an honest and trusted leader to establish your vision, mission, and values so that those in your care or supervision will trust you enough to follow. As a lifelong learner, you are constantly forging a path to transform yourself into a high-character, high-performance leader. You will never be without challenges both in life and business. But if you are focused and ready to face these complex business challenges and
personal changes with discipline, determination, honesty of purpose, and in an ethical manner, you will be successful.
Whether we realize it or not, we are all here to determine what our real intent is in life. For each of us, it may be different. For each person, it may be different; for some, a great spouse, parent, leader, and mentor; to have a legacy, to leave the place a little better than we found it. Purposedriven people put their morals, character, and honesty first. Without purpose, we drift. With purpose, we steer.
You have a responsibility to yourself and to others to use your best judgment, weigh your options carefully, and make the right decisions—even if they’re not the most favorable or popular, even when no one is watching!
When you do that, you honor yourself and your values. Wherever your path takes you, know that your trustworthiness is your highest honor. For if you are a trusted leader, others will believe in your vision, mission, and values and will trust in you enough to follow you. That will be your legacy. As a person, your core beliefs are not what you would like them to be but rather what lives and breathes in you as a person. The good news is that you will have many opportunities in your career and in life to demonstrate these values and beliefs, but only one chance to get it right each time.
We have launched Season 6 of the Leadership Library Podcast, where
we discuss many of these topics.
https://tightenthelugnuts.com/podcasts
Have a great 2023 and BE THE ARCHITECT OF YOUR OWN DESTINY
For more information visit our website https://www.3sixtymanagementservices.com/. My book,
Tighten The Lug Nuts, will also serve as a workbook for these important topics and discussions.
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Visit our web site, https://3sixtymanagementservices.com, as well as my
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