Excellence in everything and in everything, excellence.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Well, I believe it is the chicken, but that isn't the point.  The point is that both are chickens, yet one begins the process. 

So, which comes first, doing everything in an excellent manner or expecting excellence in everything and from everybody, and therefore you get excellence in everything?  Just like with the chicken, you can make a solid argument either way.  For our purposes of looking at a better way to lead, it is the latter.

Certainly, doing things in an excellent manner is a great course of action and will yield great results.  Yet sustaining excellence in everything, and from everybody, requires that we expect excellence.  We know what we want, we know what excellence looks, feels and sounds like, and in all things, that is what we expect.  Then, from there, we perform and expect performance from our team, that will only be at or above that level.  It isn't about tasks, or doing one thing well, it is about doing all things well.

My son is a golfer and strives to play in school and beyond.  He is starting to learn the difference between enjoying golf and being a golfer.  If you have ever watched pro golf you realize how small the difference is between a good shot and a great shot.  The difference between first place and not getting paid for that tournament can be as small as 4 or 5 shots a round.   Average golfers want to be good and shoot in the 80's.  Pro golfers practice dilegently, for hours a day, expecting great results, shooting in the 60's.  They work with coaches, watching film of their swing, making adjustments, all to ensure that the results are excellent.  When the outcome falls short, they go back and adjust again.

Is that how you work, coach, mentor, lead your family or team?  Do you expect great results, in everything and from everyone?  When the outcome falls short do you reflect, learn and aim to improve?

In order to be a great leader, to create a following that delivers better results you must expect excellence.  Being average or as good as a competitor isn't enough.  Trying to keep clients from complaining isn't enough.  When things fail, making excuses isn't enough. 

Start expecting excellence and when you don't get it, ask why.  Start to learn and improve the daily practice and never lower the bar.  People tend to relax to the place where comfortable, make sure that is in the excellence zone, or take them back out the practice range.