You will probably agree that turning good into great sounds inspiring and motivational. Who cannot be empowered by the idea that he or she can turn from a good attorney to a great judge, from a good manager to a great leader, from a good teacher to a great aspirer, and there is no end to this list. What makes good into great? We studied some examples of great teams, managers, and leaders and here is what we have found out.
Do not be afraid of commitment!
One of the characteristics that stands out in all cases is that people should be passionate about what they do. Teams that demonstrate a deep commitment to each other are more likely to excel. This happens when someone has a vision and takes steps towards that vision with devotion and true belief that it is the right thing to do.
In the article “Team performance: How to Turn Good Into Great”, Alex Vincent reveals the findings of a study conducted among the employees of the team that has achieved 100% of its targets based on measurable results and stayed at that level for a long time.
The question was, ”Can they do better?”
The study showed that they could do better achieving 135% of their targets, and one of the reasons for better results was commitment. “Commitment ensures every member is “all in” and fully engaged on the team’s mission. They show a willingness to work with other people and teams across the organization. They are committed to the idea of collective leadership, both on their team and for others in the organization. In short, they demonstrate a deep commitment to each other,” Alex Vincent writes.
The great leaders are a source of inspiration.
Closely connected with the idea of commitment is inspiration. Picture a truly inspiring leader. This is someone who communicates clearly and concisely and often motivates others to give their best all the time. An inspiring leader is someone who puts attainable standards and expectations and provides all the tools to support those who need to take action in order to bring the goals into reality.
The inspirational leaders also show empathy and gratitude. They give a chance to others to be part of the game. ”The inspirational leader listens to the people in her organization. Talking to people about your passion is not enough. To share meaning—a favorite and meaningful definition of communication—you must allow the ideas and thoughts of your staff to help form the vision and mission, or minimally, the goals and action plan. No one is ever one hundred percent supportive of a direction they had no part in formulating. People need to see their ideas incorporated—or understand why they were not,” Susan M. Heathfield at the Balance Careers writes.
Clarity of Purpose
The question “why am I doing this?” has a profound effect on your performance. People think that they work for money, but that is not the whole truth. We work because we want to exchange money into tangible and intangible things.
Clarity of purpose has little to do with setting goals. Your goals may change over time, and you may adjust them according to circumstances. But the great mission you take actions for is rather stable. When you clearly understand why you are doing what you are doing, it gives you much more strength and energy to put your best efforts.
We have highlighted these three traits as true signals of success. Whatever you do, be that teaching, upbringing, managing, leading or just working as a cook at a local restaurant, it is the commitment to what you do with a great sense of inspiration and clarity of purpose that turn good into great.
