Last month I began an installment of the Essentials of Modern Leadership series by speaking about the importance of culture in the workplace. It was predicated upon how lasting success comes through leadership鈥檚 pursuit of excellence by adherence to guiding principles and the critical element of buy-in from the team. I鈥檒l now elaborate further with three concluding strategies that, as I鈥檝e found from experience, play key roles in creating a culture of excellence.
Set the Expectation for Excellence
The first is to set the expectation for excellence! Let your team know, from the outset, that you want it to excel in every way鈥攆rom its biggest functions through the finest details. Mere execution of job tasks in a perfunctory manner isn鈥檛 the kind of hallmark you鈥檙e interested in. As this concept is consciously developed and bought into, it will eventually establish a reputation that will send a message that鈥檚 loud and clear: one that conveys鈥攅specially to prospective hires鈥攅xcellence is expected here.
Constantly Seek Methods of Improvement
The second builds upon the first. And that鈥檚 to root continuous improvement in the DNA of your culture. This is an umbrella everyone on your team should live under. It鈥檚 imperative to constantly seek methods to get better. Many job sectors are changing rapidly due to economical or technological factors. Be open to overhauls, tweaks, continuing education, or anything viable to help you keep an edge. The drive for continuous improvement fights complacency and keeps excellence in mind.
Understand the Importance of Delighting Your Customers
Lastly, everyone on your team should understand the importance of the customer鈥檚 voice. I鈥檝e always believed in delighting the buyer; that is, to provide value in terms of quality and price in such a way that the customer鈥檚 expectation is not only met but also exceeded. Sometimes, you can make good with delivery and price, but if a customer is dissatisfied with the result, candidly assess where breakdowns might have taken place in order to correct potential weaknesses. Remember, you鈥檙e striving for excellence!
鈥淲e are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.鈥� This is one of my favorite quotations. It鈥檚 often misattributed to Aristotle, but it was actually Will Durant who wrote it to summarize an aspect of the ancient Greek philosopher鈥檚 thought. The smart leader understands that excellence isn鈥檛 indicated by singular moments, however positive. A culture of excellence is set when a sense of high achievement is the standard and permeates the ethos of your personnel and practices.
Create a Culture of Excellence with USF Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education
Mark Koulianos is the Executive Director of the USF Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education, which is dedicated to building a world-class workforce in Tampa Bay. Go further, faster! To learn more about USF's corporate training programs and how they can help you cultivate a culture of excellence, visit our website.