What is the path to greatness?

Last week we talked about our attitude alignment when we are in the midst of change.  Even when we don’t understand what is going on, we are not relieved of the responsibility to choose the right attitude.  It all starts and stops with each of us…we are all responsible for our individual experiences and how we react to what happens to us.  

I will say it again…attitude choices are individual; no one else can choose for you.  What we do and how we behave is the direct result of those choices.  When we make choices that are consistent with our values, we develop perseverance over time.  And when we as leaders exhibit consistency with those we interact with, we begin to develop and promulgate trust. 

Make no mistake about it -  our experiences are what WE choose to make of them. 

It is easy to perform singular acts of greatness, but it is another thing altogether to be great in all that you do.  True greatness is a way of life.  The path is a journey, one that requires a willingness to be open to things that are new and different.  It also means being responsible for our individual thoughts, words, and actions.  

The development of consistent organizational greatness is also marked by disciplined, habitual decision-making guided by the intentional commitment that we as leaders have to those we influence.  These TRIBES can only begin to form as the individuals in the group begin to shift their focus more from me to we.  

In these TRIBES, there is a recognition that no one person is more important than anyone else.  When the heat is on, “teams” with goals can get off track, feeling that the end result forces certain actions to occur that might not align with organizational values.  

TRIBES are different, as they have values at the forefront of all of their decision-making. Actions become the result of intentional choices.

Individuals are on a team.  But they are IN A TRIBE!

The difference starts and ends with each person’s choice of the attitude they bring to the group.  

Perseverance, developed by consistently choosing to align our actions with our values, is a prerequisite for greatness.  That requires each individual intentionally choosing to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of fleeting momentary feelings.  

Let’s not fall into the trap of confusing the urgency of any one moment with the importance of the big picture.  After all, as Yogi Berra jokes, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up somewhere else.”

Let’s commit to making good choices for the benefit of our TRIBES. 

Looking forward…