The risks and rewards have changed. With diminishing professional values and expectations, the problem solving techniques that have always been utilized are not and will not solve the same discrepancies of productivity, effectiveness, quality, and service.
Popular new business models preach that change is inevitable, and adjustments must be made and new and creative ideas are the key to success in our ever-changing future. There is sound logic to the monster of change and a new imposed weapon system to challenge it. Yet even with our connect to everyone-everywhere social media driven society, our desire for high-speed and immediate satisfaction and results, and our take it now work for it later mentality, filling the gap between success and failure I believe has in its complicated demand, a simplistic solution. A return to basic principals.
If you have held a job in today's corporate markets, you have most likely experienced one of two things most, if not all industries have in common.
A sound set of expectations that are practiced and breathed by each member of the organizational society.
Or a sound set of expectations which are pushed aside for convenience and utilized when and only when it serves the purposes of the bottom line operators.
A definite commonality between ALL organizations, is the common goal to succeed. Whether it be sales goals, client retention, bottom line margins, non-profit donations, or 'likes' on a Facebook page, each in its own light, strives to flourish into the future.
What defines good to great organizations? Fantastic books and programs have been produced that take successful operations and show how you can catapult ones department or organization to the next level. What all these have in common is the requirement of very solid principals ALREADY being practiced diligently from day to day, fiscal year to year.
You have to learn to crawl before you can run however. And the 'crawling' operations, start-up companies, franchises, new managers etc, all take great risks in attempts to live their version of the American Dream. Those risks are futile and spotty at best when not coupled with a solid mission, and principal based expectations for all personnel involved. After all, any great (and honest) salesman or businessman will tell you that behind every deal, every sale, every transaction, are two people: the seller and the buyer. Find a service where this isn't the scenario and you have a strong case for a business model set for Star Wars.
So with people being the common denominator, clients, readers, and employees alike, lets evaluate the core needs that a team of people need to win at anything together, whether in a family unit, fortune 500 corporation, or ma-pa restaurant.
Namely, Simple Expectations...
These are indeed in order of importance and stepping stones to a firm path of successful execution in any operation.
#1 - An optimistic attitude: a common mindset of winning.
#2 - A willingness to perform in every way that supports the goal(s) of the organization.
#3 - Being responsible to yourself and those you report to.
#4 - A mastering of the skills necessary to accomplish the task at hand.
Without #1, the rest are capped and futile.
Without #2, a lopsided approach leaves some out and others making all the effort.
Without #3, accountability only exists in theory leaving high turnover and frustrated leaders.
Without #4, well lets be clear, if you have 1,2, and 3 mastered, with few exceptions you can learn to do nearly anything and master it with ease.
The beauty of it is, as a leader, if you have someone on your staff who encompasses the first 3 expectations dutifully, you can in turn teach them to master the skill or set of skills required to make them highly successful and a valuable asset within your teams.
It is pretty basic and common sense, yet with our rapid paced world, how easy do we overlook the simplistic way of backing up a moment, coaching the basics, and letting what has always worked, continue to work with our people as we progress into the 21st century of organizational development and beyond!
