Raising The Bar

One of the most popular events in the Olympics is the pole vault event. We all watch with amazement and anticipation as the competitor runs full speed down the track with a long pole in his hands. Then the jumper hangs on for dear life as he lowers the pole downwards into a hole that propels him high up in the air, high enough to clear the bar just in front of him. The jumper then has a soft landing on his back ready to jump even higher the next time.

The goal of the jumper is not to be the fastest down the track, or to be the most efficient at hitting the mark with the pole. No, the goal is to jump high enough to clear the bar. Then, do it again, and again, and again each time the bar is raised.

Whether you know it or not there is a bar to be raised or lowered in your organization. The name of this bar is: The Bar of Expectations. Each time you expect more of your staff, volunteers, or yourself you are raising the bar.

But, how far can you raise the bar, and how fast? My experience while working with all types of organizations is that there is a tried and true fact, the smaller the organization the lower the bar of expectations. In other words, the fewer people you have to work with the less you can expect (or demand) out of them.

Lets use for example a small choir. The choir director wants so bad to perform like a five hundred voice choir but knows if she puts too much demand on the choir members they might quit. Leaving holes that might be impossible for the rest of the group to fill. Or she might have a hard time getting members in the first place because her expectations are too high.

Conversely, if we look at a five hundred voice choir we see a director with the same dreams ? dreams to perform at peak potential. The difference in this situation is the choir director can start out with high expectations or put rather high demands on her members because she knows that there are many who would love to be a member of her choir.

You might be saying, "How do I raise the bar in my organization?" In my experience I have discovered four techniques that you can do to continually raise the bar, which will challenge your team members to become more effective in their duties and strive for their dreams..

Listen to where each team member is. This is especially important if you acquire a new team member or if you yourself are the new leader on the team. Listening to not only what is said but also what is not can help you determine areas of weakness in your team member's life, leadership skills, or ability. Plan one-on-one conversations where you can listen for areas of insecurity, fear, frustration, passion, past experiences, and confusion. Hearing comes natural to all of us, but listening is learned. The better you learn to listen the more your team member will open up and share where he is and where he wants to go.

Learn to be patient. In most small organizations most people on a leadership team are used to the status quo. Therefore, when you challenge them to grow in new ways you must be patient. If you go too fast they will dig in their feet or put up walls ? or both. It is difficult to go slow when you see your team members with such great potential. Potential that is untapped, and perfect for the growth of your organization.

Lead one step at a time. Remember, they are a small cup and you are a gallon of water. If you pour out all your knowledge and experience you will quickly overflow their cup. Therefore, lead one step at a time in areas that you have detected are weak. Some weak areas that I find in most people that are in smaller organizations are:

• Time Management skills

• Developing an on-going personal growth plan

• Teamwork, and how to develop a team

• Pursuing excellence in everything that they do

• Learning to think big

List what you expect, inspect what you list. In order for anyone on your team to grow you must hold them accountable. Now, this must be done carefully because if done incorrectly you could be faced with many embarrassing holes in your organization (i.e. the choir). The best way I have found to hold people accountable in a smaller organization is to challenge them with a goal. A goal that is measurable, obtainable, requires action, and has a deadline. By doing this you will see how strong of a leader they are, and how they can perform when a deadline is approaching.

You will be able to increase your demands (or expectations) as the organization grows and as your leaders increase their leadership ability. The larger the organization gets the bigger the goals can be. The greatest part about this is the reward. It is almost like you are a proud father watching your child sing her first solo, or hit the homerun to win the game. When your team members begin accomplish bigger goals in less time you know you are becoming a more effective leader and your expectations can rise. Remember, go slow and you will grow.

Footprints and Monuments is a free monthly leadership and motivational e-newsletter. No names receiving this e-newsletter are sold or distributed to any other source. You are encouraged to forward this monthly article to anyone in your address book. To un-subscribe please reply back with "Un-subscribe" in the subject field.

About The Author

Jeff Earlywine

www.jeffearlywine.com

jeff@jeffearlywine.com

---

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - Before Its Too Late

Think about what you're doing each day and ask yourself... Read More

A Simple Motivation Technique For Massive Success

Want to hear about a simple & effective motivation technique?... Read More

Trust the ?System? ? It Works!

The "System" ? the overall structure and organization of this... Read More

Information Age: Knowledge is King

In our information age, having the right knowledge at the... Read More

The Conversation of Recovery - Part Two

The listening for the Conversation of possibilities will be even... Read More

Limitations Real Or Imagined, Stick Em In A Pigs Eye!

It's about time to take a real hard look at... Read More

Ready, Set, Action!

James 2: 17?faith by itself, if it is not accompanied... Read More

Motivation By Your Family And Cornermen

The motivation for good or bad which we get from... Read More

Letting Go Of Our Negativity

Everyone has something, whether it be a habit, or aspect... Read More

Its Never Too Late To Start

Many people never start anything because they think the bus... Read More

10 Things To Do This Summer

Looking for a summer project? How about working on who... Read More

Life Is About Taking

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow... Read More

10 Ways to Overcome Procrastination: The Challenge for Tomorrow!

Did you realize that as much as 47% of the... Read More

Nothing To Lose

I stormed out of the office and headed for the... Read More

Thinking for Success - The Same Method Does Not Work For Everyone

I am always concerned that there are so many books... Read More

Prime That Pump! Part 3

How healthy is your vision of yourself? How does your... Read More

Making the Invisible Visible: The WOW Behind the HOW!

"We must be the change we wish to see in... Read More

Change 101: How to Get the Changes You Desire

Here's a bold statement:Change can be simple and easy.It really... Read More

Achieving Your Dreams

While most people spend most of their lives struggling to... Read More

Problems or Opportunities?

As best I can tell hereâ??s how it breaks down.Some... Read More

Lights, Camera, Take Action

Have you ever had a great business idea?Did you focus... Read More

Motivation: The Power of Asking

Very shortly, in this paragraph, I'm going to share with... Read More

A Special Q & A - All About Passionately Soaring in Life

1. How do I discover my passion?This is one of... Read More

3 Great Ways To Stay Motivated At Work

Staying motivated at work is easier than you think when... Read More

Greed and Selfishness: Knowing The Difference And Loving Yourself!

I hear many people discuss how selfishness leads to greed,... Read More

Map to a Gold Mine - Could You, Would You?

If a total stranger came up to you and said:... Read More

When Life Gives You Waves, Learn to S.U.R.F.

Would you like to learn a skill set and technique... Read More

Why Bother About Your Life?

Have you failed to create the life you want, because... Read More

2 Simple Ways To Cure Procrastination

Curing procrastination is not necessarily about will power or forcefully... Read More

5 Keys to Maintaining Personal Change

I look out my window at daybreak as the sunrise... Read More

7 Key Steps to Unshakable Confidence

Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first... Read More

The Time to Act

Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the ability... Read More

Magic In The Leadership Zone!

"Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small... Read More