Is your old way wrong?

I was recently working with a leader who had decades of experience.  I was encouraging him to consider doing something differently.

He complained, "I have been doing this for 20 years.  Are you saying I've been doing it wrong for 20 years?"  

What do you think should have been my response?

I avoided a direct rebuttal.  I replied empathetically, "Not necessarily, but standards have changed.  20 years ago I used nails to build a fence in my yard.  Now I use screws.  Were nails wrong 20 years ago?  No.  But screws are better..."

Dr. Henry Cloud wrote a book 1-2 years ago titled, Never Go Back.  His conclusion is the primary difference between highly successful people and average people is the top performers make mistakes and then vow not to repeat them.  And then they do not repeat those mistakes.

In contrast, average performers repeat mistakes.  Constantly.

Seth Godin in his blog post this morning said the following: 

The tidal wave is overrated

Yes, it can lead to wholesale destruction, but it's the incessant (but much smaller) daily tidal force that moves all boats, worldwide.

And far more powerful than either is the incredible impact of seepage, of moisture, of the liquid that makes things grow.

Facebook and other legendary companies didn't get that way all at once, and neither will you.

We can definitely spend time worrying about/building the tsunami, but it's the drip, drip, drip that will change everything in the long run.

Great leaders are systematic in what they do to avoid mistakes, improve efficiency, and increase effectiveness to fuel growth.

Every day they take the time to refocus themselves on what is truly most important and to avoid mistakes.  This is a key drip, drip, drip leadership cycle or rhythm necessary to be your best.  It may not have the glamour of your photo on the cover of a major magazine, but these leaders are positively impacting the lives of millions of people.

Unfortunately most people are not great leaders.  The primary difference is they choose to not apply what they learn, and/or could learn.

The way you do things today might get them done, but what would happen if you chose to dedicate yourself to 1-3 higher standards?  Would...

• Your employees be more engaged and fulfilled in their work?
• Your Clients be happier with the products and services you provide?
• You be spending more of your time achieving your goals instead of trying to hold things together?

If your career is comfortable and that's the way you like it, then enjoy.

However, for those of us who still want to change the world, we are about one-third of the way through 2016.  If you want to improve, then the best time is always now.