I had a fascinating coaching call recently with a businessman in which he said that his boss had moved him from the good group to the excellent group in his company.
I thought of Jim Collin’s book, “Good to Great” along these lines. As we unpacked how he was doing and why he got elevated in his boss’s perception, we focused on his ability to “Execute Consistently with Excellence”- (ECE). It seems that many in his organization never get to this point.
I have been thinking of that ever since my call with him.
- What does it take to execute consistently with excellence?
- Why does there appear to be so few who execute consistently with excellence?
I thought of different groupings of leaders:
- Those who lead by executing consistently with excellence
- Those who lead by executing with excellence but not consistently
- Those who lead who neither execute well nor are characterized by excellence in what they do
It seem to be an issue for lots of leaders to be consistent with important things over a long period of time. It’s so easy to get sidetracked and distracted with things of lessor importance. Or just not be consistently highly motivated to do work well to the glory of God.
I believe that there is a premium today for leaders who cultivate the ability to get things done (both on the people side and on the task side) and do what they do with excellence.
Honestly, there is a lot of sloppy work being done today by Christian leaders; or leaders who seem to do well some of the time but not most of the time or all of the time.
It was Charles Swindoll who said, “The trouble with life is that it’s so daily.” That’s so true. Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s ball games. We need to execute well consistently day after day; not just when we feel like it, when it ‘s convenient or if we’re not tired. We are admonished in Colossians 3:17, 23 to do what we do wholeheartedly as to the Lord and not for men. Everything Jesus did he did with excellence. He changed water into the “best” wine. Mark 7:37 tells us that he does everything well; not passable, not so so , not okay but WELL!
There is a book by Larry Bossidy called, “Execution” which is the best piece of work I have seen on this subject. You will find a book note at davekraft.org under the tab, “Book Notes.” Here is a quote from that book:
“What you want is a leadership gene pool that can conceive and shape executable strategies and convert them into operating plans and specific point of accountability. No strategy delivers results unless it’s converted into specific actions. Strategies most often fail because they aren’t executed well. Unless you translate big thoughts into concrete steps for action, they’re pointless.
• Execution is a discipline, and integral to strategy
• Execution is the major job of the leader
• Execution must be a core element of an organization’s culture”
May I both challenge you and encourage you, fellow leader, to execute consistently with excellence (ECE) in your current role and responsibility so you can become a leader people can count on to follow up and follow through as you are led by him, empowered by him and honor him!
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