What are you thankful for? I am thankful for the opportunity to share my musings with a community committed to growing as leaders. Today I want to explore what it means to be outstanding. So, what is the genesis of outstanding performance? This is a common topic of discussion during many executive coaching sessions. Leaders often look for ways to promote outstanding performance in those they lead. This usually involves leaders trying to understand what distinguishes truly outstanding work from the rest. It also usually involves a desire to understand the spark that leads to outstanding performance. Several weeks ago, I had the honor to be the keynote speaker at the Virginia Jaycees Outstanding Young Virginians Dinner. This event is modeled after the U.S. Jaycees Outstanding Young Americans Award, and both have a long history of celebrating the accomplishments of extraordinary young people.
There is one piece of advice I give to all of my clients – “Ask for help.” People want to help us solve the challenges that we face. Our friends and family do it because they care about us, and they want to see us succeed. Some people want to help us for less noble reasons. It may make them feel good about themselves. They may believe that helping us will make us more willing to help them when they need it. Regardless of the motivation, there are people willing to help if only we ask.
Several weeks ago, I experienced one of those annoying challenges of being a sole proprietor – the lack of computer technical support. Every time I opened my calendar in Outlook™, it would freeze up, forcing me to restart my computer. Prior to starting my firm last year, I had always been a part of large organizations. Whenever something went wrong with my PC, I simply called technical support. The problem is, now I am technical support. I am also administrative support, buildings and grounds, etc. The good news is that I am also the boss.