“We believe the world is full of mediocre, transactional teams…”
So begins the BUILT TO LEAD message. It’s not exactly ready for the mass market. Who wants to hear, much less heed, that they’re mediocre?
Yet we know it’s the truth. Look around. Is the world full of excellent teams? Selfless teamwork? Outstanding service? Legendary innovation? Remarkable stories of corporate ethics?
“We also believe that individuals, teams, and leaders want so much more…”
So continues the BUILT TO LEAD message. Teams, apparently, don’t know how.
We know how.
Practice virtue, individually at first. Then bring that to your team and lead them in practicing virtue.
And what, exactly, do I mean by “virtue?” That sounds ‘old school’ for sure.
Let’s start with the top 4–The Cardinal Virtues, neither named because they’re red, nor that they refer to teams in St. Louis, Arizona, or The Vatican, but because “cardinal” means “hinge”–the thing upon which doors open or close.
Aristotle proposed them. He said you could “transform yourself” if you practiced them. About 350 years later, a crazy little band of Messianic Jews built on that idea and said if you practiced them in the right spirit, you could “transform the world.” Who knew? (We know who).
Here they are, and here’s how you can apply them with your team tomorrow:
1. Wisdom: Continual learning put into action for the good of others. The act of transforming one’s mind, not conforming to the shape the world would force upon you. Growth of consciousness and adaptability. That’s your team’s mission–vivid, inspiring, meaningful, unique, and necessary in this crazy, scary, confusing, distracting world. WHY are you here, and WILL you evolve?
2. Justice: Fair play and consideration for all. The reciprocity of service and responsibility to and from everyone to build a productive and peaceful community where everyone’s unique contribution can be offered and received. That’s your team’s culture–clearly drawn in pursuit of your mission, with a spirit of vitality and diversity, responsibility and service. Is the CHARACTER of your culture just, or unjust?
3. Temperance: Self-control, focus, and discipline in pursuit of your mission and in support of your community. Structured promise-keeping through clear rules of behavior and continual improvement. Constant self-examination, measurement, and gap-closing in integrity and competence. That’s your team’s core processes and systems. Are you orderly, and efficient, and IMPROVING constantly?
4. Courage: The act of love and will to face your fears and move forward in spite of them. The confidence to set goals and hit them. The insistence to make an impact, leave a mark, and change the world for the better, NOW. That’s your team’s promise and plan–your sustained RESULTS. Are you and you team properly focused on delivering your promises today?
There they are: the four Cardinal Virtues applied to your organization and team. There’s one catch, however…
“We believe that excellence must be achieved individually before it can be spread organizationally…”
It starts with YOU. You must practice virtue FIRST. That is the only way a FIFTH virtue of TRUST can be brought to your team. Trust is the foundation of every community, whether that’s a community of thousands, or just when “two or more are gathered.” You must be trustworthy. The only way:
Practice Virtue.
It is real. hard. work. AND it’s the only antidote to mediocrity.
Are you ready to be BUILT TO LEAD?
(NOTE: My thanks to N.T. Wright)
BUILT TO LEAD 