What defines us? Is it the occasional successes and wins we get pleasure from over time? Or is it the day-to-day habits and behaviors that lead us to these successes and wins?
My view is that it’s the latter — and I consider it’s the requirements and expectations we set round our values, mission, and objectives that drive significant progress and, in the end, outcomes. Additionally they assist us create the surroundings and tradition we need.
Within the area of non-public growth, a typical chorus is that to vary your life, it’s a must to change your requirements. That is essential: Elevating our requirements helps us obtain our objectives. It permits us to create stronger relationships, turn into more healthy, and problem ourselves to do new issues — all of which appear to result in higher satisfaction and happiness.
It’s a method and a method to deliver out one of the best in ourselves and create the standard of life we would like.
Increasing on that is one other concept that solutions the primary query I posed above: “What defines us is the bottom customary we settle for.” This phrase has lately turn into a drumbeat in my life.
It speaks to the concept we turn into not what our greatest efficiency or habits is, however what we tolerate; what we tolerate turns into who we’re.
At Life Time, for example, our members have excessive service requirements, and we’ve got inside insurance policies that information our execution. We write them down and ensure everyone seems to be conscious of them.
The execution of those requirements is essential; if one thing falls quick, then that may simply set the brand new customary.
All new group members undergo coaching that features a set of ideas we name PPCC: “Decide up, Push in, Clear up, Shut what’s open.” Everybody is aware of if there may be trash within the car parking zone, you decide it up. A chair askew within the LifeCafe? Push it in.
Letting issues slide can appear simpler within the quick time period, however the results add up over time.
Whereas these might seem to be tiny particulars, tending to them is considered one of numerous actions that guarantee our golf equipment keep impeccable.
All it takes is one lowered customary or one act of wanting the opposite method to result in a “How did we get right here?” second. A grain of sand is almost invisible, however in bulk it turns into a seashore.
Letting issues slide can appear simpler within the quick time period, however the results add up over time.
The minute we start to tolerate work that isn’t as much as par, or permit habits or efficiency that’s lower than we or others are able to, we set a decrease customary — and fail to ship on a aim or promise.
The danger in any surroundings, whether or not at dwelling, at work, or elsewhere, is that this may affect the tradition. So, requirements should be applied, defended, and inspected every day, which requires an unimaginable quantity of dedication. When it is sensible, these requirements have to be modified or raised.
How can we do that in our skilled and private lives?
It begins by figuring out important behaviors and parameters. Individuals must know our expectations, which we’ve got to set with crystal-clear tips (within the office, this requires technique, targets, objectives, and measurements). We additionally have to create perception within the why that guides the requirements.
Then, we’ve got to persistently examine the expectation: Are our actions and behaviors aligned not solely with the requirements, however with our values? Is what we’re delivering or doing offering the promised worth? If sure, nice! If not, it’s time to course appropriate, as a result of habits drives tradition, and tradition drives outcomes. We get what we’re prepared to tolerate — at dwelling, at work, in our communities, on this planet.
When a normal is compromised, it’s the duty of all of us to say, “This isn’t acceptable.” We have to decide to talking up, making modifications, and taking motion when one thing isn’t working.
The impact of this dedication permeates far past the second: It modifications — for the higher — the tradition we’ve labored so arduous to create.
So, we have to be assured, anticipate excellence, and attempt for greatness in all we do. This type of habits influences each determination we make and each motion we take, from the tiny to the great — and it may set the requirements for the place we go from right here.
