This Week in Leadership
The Friday Five - Issue 31
Challenging leaders to maximize their potential
Terry Wetzel ~ Summit Leadership Development
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1% Better
We often think that making a big change requires a heroic effort. In reality, real transformation is much quieter. It’s about getting just 1% better every day. A 1% improvement might feel invisible in the moment but it can be reading five pages of a book, writing one paragraph, or clearing your desk at the end of the day. On day one it feels like nothing, but small improvements compound. If you get 1% better each day for a year, you’ll end up 37 times better off than when you started. Don't worry about reinventing your whole life today. Just look for your 1% win.
Perfectionism Limits Excellence
We often treat perfectionism like a badge of honor or a sign of high standards. The truth is perfectionism doesn't necessarily result in excellence, it often suffocates it. Perfectionism is rooted in fear of failure, fear of judgment, and fear of being viewed as flawed, which leads to procrastination and the inability to just get things done. Excellence on the other hand, is about growth, iteration, and having the courage to continually adapt.
Your Best People
Organizations do not lose their best people suddenly. They lose them slowly, through a series of moments they chose not to address. Every organization has people who others quietly point to as the ones who make it work. The person who delivers without complaint. The one who sees problems before they become crises, who does not play games, who does not seek credit, who simply gets on with it. Those people are often the first to leave and their departure is sometimes explained with fluffy language that obscures the real cause. Make a renewed effort to take care of these people so they do not leave.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
We have all heard the phrase "work smarter, not harder." I am not sure I completely agree with this. True excellence requires work ethic combined with the awareness to constantly refine how those hours are spent. Work smarter AND harder.
Connection = Communication
True communication only happens when we connect with someone. Before a message can be understood, there has to be a bridge of connection. A shared willingness to listen, a mutual sense of trust, or a baseline of understanding that validates the other person's perspective. Without this connection words are just noise, easily misinterpreted or dismissed. When we prioritize connection we tune into the other person’s energy, ensuring that when we do speak our message resonates with them.
Quote of the Week
“Growth begins the moment you decide that comfort is no longer your priority.” – Brianna Wiest
Book of the Week
The Courage to Be Disliked is a book that will change how you think. It is very easy to read and is primarily a conversation between a philosopher and a young man. Without a doubt, this book caused me to reflect on some of my beliefs that have hindered personal growth over the years.
That’s it for this week
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The photo in today’s web edition was taken on the High Falls Flowage in WI.
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