How often do you hear people say …
“I want to be part of that company.”
“There’s something special going on here.”
“I stay here because they care about me.”
“I found the place where I belong.”
For over twenty years I was regional manager for a national outlet-store retail chain. My stores extended from Virginia, down to the tip of South Florida, across the south, up into Indiana, and as far west as Missouri. We were the most successful region in our company, climbing to #1 in profitability, and often the only net profit region. What made us successful? Why were we the best?
It wasn’t what we did—it was who we were. Here are the seeds I planted, cultivated, and nourished in our team.
These values fostered our success, fortified our struggle, and fueled our striving.
1. ATTITUDE …
The only attitude I can change is mine, but my attitude will transform everyone else’s.
Attitude dictates altitude. We can never soar high enough to reach our goals if our eyes are focused on why it can’t be done. A hopeful attitude sets your sights high.
Attitude determines outcome. Success will remain out of reach if we’re crippled by negative thoughts, actions, and beliefs. Don’t succumb to defeat before you run your first play.
Attitude defines behavior. The spirit with which we go through our day intoxicates us and infects everyone around us. Others will adopt the conviction they sense in you.
Energy, excitement, and passion flow from the heart—they’re contagious. Unfortunately, the same is true for laziness, apathy, and indifference.
You’ve heard it said that one rotten apple spoils the whole basket? Well, one bad attitude can contaminate your entire team. So think positive. Be positive.
2. TEAMWORK …
Collaborating, cooperating, and climbing toward one common goal. As your team grows together, a sense of family will flourish.
Recognition, appreciation, trust, respect, and communication are all needed to mold a group of individuals into a team that will work together, take pride together, and stay together.
Since we’re talking about teamwork, let’s look at a quote from the sports world. Yes, it comes from one of my favorite football players. During his Hall of Fame NFL career, Terry Bradshaw led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. In his book Keep It Simple he wrote:
“We’re all in this together. One way or another we’re all dependent on each other. I could have been the greatest passer in the history of the world, but no one would ever know if I didn’t have receivers catching [the ball], or an offensive line to protect me… You certainly are an individual, you’re the only you, but you are better and stronger and more productive as part of a team.”
Terry Bradshaw, NFL HOF quarterback and broadcaster
We can accomplish more as a group than any one of us can accomplish individually.
3. HONESTY …
We’ve all heard of “the golden rule.” Or, “Treat others as you want to be treated.” Or, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Whatever we call it, whoever we talk to, wherever we go, whenever we find ourselves faced with decisions, we must choose to be trustworthy.
You cannot repair the destruction and damage wrought by duplicity and deceit. However, money won’t buy the admiration and respect you will gain due to dependability, reliability, and honesty.
I like what Charles Wang, founder, chairman, and CEO of Computer Associates International, Inc., had to say:
“To be a successful person you have to have integrity. Your word has to be worth everything you’ve got. You must have a moral compass. People will get a sense of you.”
You may think it doesn’t matter right now, but some day—maybe today, maybe next week, maybe ten years from now—you’ll be glad you made honesty your only policy.
4. PRIDE …
Hold your head high and say, “I’m proud to be part of that.” Not the kind of pride that brings you down. We can let pride cloud our judgment, or be too proud to listen to, and learn from, criticism. No, I’m talking about looking at what we’ve accomplished and being proud of our efforts.
I believe having pride in what we do is more important than anything else. I don’t care how quickly your sales grow, or how many clicks your post gets, or how much money you make. If you, or one of your team members, aren’t proud of what you’re doing, then it isn’t worth doing.
5. CARING …
Look inside yourself and know you truly want to be part of what you’re doing.
Could there be a more significant value needed in our world right now? Is there any way we can conquer the mountain of tasks, burdens, anxieties, and responsibilities we all face unless we genuinely care?
It amazes me how many people, day after day, will post on Facebook that they hate going to work. Or they can’t wait for the weekend. Or they spend the entire weekend dreading Monday! Our jobs can be dull, dreary, and depressing. Or they can be fun, fascinating, and fulfilling. The choice is ours.
Do we care? Do you care?
“If you don’t invest very much, then defeat doesn’t hurt very much and winning is not very exciting.
Dick Vermeil, former NFL coach
6. CHARACTER …
Have you noticed how these values go hand in hand? How you can’t have one without the other? Some are so similar you might ask how much difference there really is. I mean, if we’re honest and have a good attitude, don’t we have character as well? Yes, but we can distinguish these further.
When a person has good character, we’re talking about their reputation, their moral fiber, their inner being.
Our character is something no one can change. No amount of slander, gossip, or persecution can remove good character. At the same time, no one can award us with good character—nor erase “bad” character from us.
We can only control the image we see in the mirror each day. Do you see a reflection of honesty, integrity, caring, encouragement, trust, and joy? Are you proud of yourself when you look at who you are?
Always seek individual integrity that results in a corporate reputation of unquestionable good character.
7. PRODUCTIVITY …
The success of the organization—or household—is dependent on each individual’s efforts, ideas, and contributions. Be creative, dream, think, plan, develop, imagine, believe. I’ll risk an old cliché: “If you can believe it, you can achieve it.”
I often find myself becoming discouraged, thinking it can’t be done. That mindset only leads to self-defeat.
Remember where we started on this journey? Our very first value? We have to attack with the attitude that we can accomplish anything.
Let your actions be a positive reflection of both you and your team. It’s not about the boss, or the industry, or the division, or the CEO. It’s about you. YOU are the impression that people get of your organization.
These values are your values. If you’re the leader, embody them with boldness and conviction. And as we follow, let’s believe in our co-workers. Let’s believe in our company. Believe in your team. Your school. Your church. Your family. Believe in yourself.
What values do you look for? Let me know in the comments section. And as always, please subscribe below to keep up with new blog postings.
Thanks for reading!