Trivial to the tantamount.
As I am paid to study every leader and every team with which we work, this truth has jabbed me relentlessly. We tend to miss this in our search, as a culture, for “silver bullets” and the relentless rush toward “the One thing you need to know.” We all want the recipe for high performance and we want to limit the number of ingredients to three or less. Something manageable. One, we can only imagine, would be perfect.
Moving together isn’t so easy. AND, you will never manage your way there…
Last night I had a front row seat to one of my clients and their team. A couple hundred families gathered for a Christmas dinner. The food was good, the music hit the mark, and the feeling in the air was pleasant enough. Good to go.
Miss and I wandered around a bit and ended up at some random table where we knew no One. We talked to a couple that had worked here a while and asked them about the history of this particular celebration. They couldn’t wait to tell us about the generosity of the owner.
Could NOT wait.
Five good minutes later, we had learned about this tradition. This year the celebration was just for the associate and their significant other. Every other year, however, the entire family is invited. If the associate has Grandchildren, they come too. The owner gives them ALL money toward a present for their children and then the associate chooses the gift that is meaningful for their child. If they want to go beyond the amount coming from the owner they simply cover the difference. Santa shows up that night and…
MAGIC.
As the economy has worsened, many systems have cut out celebrations. Many have, instead, cut not only celebrations, but their associates. This owner has done neither.
EVER.
Are you still with me. Is this trivial or tantamount to this team? Aren’t celebrations only a piece of the equation when they can be afforded? AND, pray tell, why would this system need BUILT TO LEAD. They’ve got their act together after all. Don’t miss this. This is what most seem to miss.
There’s your recipe.
Trivial to the tantamount. There are no trivial people and their are no trivial moments. There are no trivial decisions and their are no trivial consequences. There are NO trivial ingredients if excellence is your objective. There are no trivial improvements too small to go after. There are tons of seemingly small almost immeasurable ingredients in the recipe for building a high performance system. To most leaders they appear to be trivial. This team and this owner know different. They understand that the trivial matters. Over time, the trivial becomes tantamount. They get it…
Do you?
Are you becoming BUILT TO LEAD?
Are you giving to your system because you’ve been blessed and want to bless them?
Are you trying to cut out the trivial expenses on your way to the top?
Do you realize that when you choose to lead this system, this way, it will be costly, many won’t notice, countless will take advantage, and your peers will see you as senseless?
BTL builders answer simply…
Do it, anyway.
BUILT TO LEAD 