Leadership’s Breakout Strategy

By

Dr. Alfred M. Coke

As a country and a society we are rapidly sliding into a level of mediocrity that is demonstrated in the way we talk, the way we dress, and the way we behave. It extends from our social interactions to our business deals. Every segment of our lives is affected by the trend to the middle, resulting in mediocrity in everything we do.

This article is neither a discourse on ethics nor a religious thesis for assuming moral high ground. I’m not suggesting a righteous position.  

However, I am tired of living with the average. I’m fed up with poor services. I’m sick of dumbing things down to the lowest dominator because some people in society can’t, don’t want, or refuse to keep up. I’m tired of goods and services costing more because of internal company waste. I’m angry at corporate executives ripping off huge sums of money for personal gain.

It is time we take stock of our behavior and get back on the track of professionalism. I am advocating we reverse the trend of political correctness that is leading us to the point of absurdity. Like Peter Finch in the movie, Network, I’ve had enough.

The direction of society is difficult to control, direct, and redirect. The challenge is too big for the scope of this piece. What is within our control, yours and mine, is to clean up our business management behavior. It is time management teams regain control of their enterprises. To do so requires internal strength of character and outward demonstration of convictions.

Leadership is the breakout strategy used against this trend toward common. Four tactics support a leadership strategy:

#1: Set performance expectations – You get what you expect. Good is not good enough unless you just want to be good. We should set high, almost unattainable, results. If you set high goals people will migrate toward them. Conversely if you permit low goals they will also migrate to that level.

#2: Hold people accountable – It is time people became accountable for their low performance behaviors. Our permissive society has perpetrated, condoned, and rewarded those who blame everyone and everything for failure. As a business leader you have every right to require employees to be responsible and accountable.

#3: Pay attention to detail – It is called the “Broken Window Theory.” Small things are indicators of larger issues and problems. Fix them before they get larger.

#4: Require discipline – Start with the way employees look when they come to work. The U.S. Army isn’t a “come as you are event.” Have you ever wondered why? There are many reasons for uniformity of dress and dress codes within a corporate body. One of those is for discipline. Another is for pride. A third is for professionalism. Take away the corporate dress and you get our current society?

In Summary

Leadership is the breakout strategy to get your organization back into a high performance mode. Expect it, require it, and demand it! Accept nothing less.