This is a message I sent to my leaderships and exec teams yesterday morning. It was the thought that crossed my mind driving into work...
When I first heard the quote, "You get what you tolerate." I thought it was fantastic and true. Our organization, our teams, our business develops to the level that we tolerate the noise, the distraction, the lack of focus, etc., etc.
"YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE…"
So raise the bar, and you will get more…
BUT, the more I think about that quote, the more I dislike it... thoroughly.
It suggests that people are not inherently motivated to reach beyond our expectations.
It suggests that we must drive people to achieve more.
It suggests that we ultimately set the pace.
And, I disagree.
I believe a more accurate & more powerful statement is…
YOU GET WHAT YOU INSPIRE
I believe people want to contribute at the highest possible level, and it is our role as leaders to help FAN their fire, not "turn up the heat".
I believe people are capable of much greater things that I can ever imagine. I believe they can accomplish more than I could ever ask of them, and I don't want to limit them with my own limitations.
"You get what you tolerate", raises the roof on our building…
"You get what you inspire", fans the rocket fuel to reach new heights…
It's one word – but its a WHOLE different approach… It's a whole different culture… It's a much greater WIN!
What do you do to inspire your company, your team, your division, your family? What do you do to help FAN THEIR FLAMES?
Look for every opportunity to speak to people with your highest goals and explicit values…
Don't shy away from showing people your vision. Don't shy away from allowing your vision to help inspire theirs. Allow people to see their own canvas…
Winning for us isn't about raising the roof… it really is about fanning the flames…
You get what you INSPIRE! We've got some great stuff going on at our company and in our lives.
Harmony... it's in the single word, and in the smallest details.
Make great things happen…
Fanning the flames of harmony!
Nestor