Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 27 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: Progress
— From The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. (Read an excerpt here.)
One of the most wonderful compliments we can all receive is that of equating us with progress: “He/she stands for progress. He/she is the right person for the job.” I still haven’t met anybody who does not like to be seen as a forward-looking, progress-seeking leader.
Looking forward, thinking progress, believing in progress and pushing for progress are leadership qualities that we can all develop. David J. Schwartz in The Magic of Thinking Big says, “Leaders, real leaders, are in short supply. Status-quo-ers (the everything’s-all-right-let’s-don’t-upset-the-apple-cart folks) far outnumber the progressives (the there’s-lots-of-room-for-improvement-let’s-get-to-work-and-do-it-better people). Join the leadership elite. Develop a forward look.”
But how?
There are two things you can do to develop your progressive outlook:
1. Think improvement in everything you do.
2. Think high standards in everything you do.
Students, employees and people in general pattern their thoughts and actions after those of their leaders. That is why a new teacher, a new boss, a new president, or any kind of new leader can make such an enormous difference, for good or bad. Schwartz says, “Remember this: when you take over the leadership of a group, the persons in that group immediately begin to adjust themselves to the standards you set. […] Once they know, they act accordingly.”
Schwartz goes on to say something very profound and powerful: “Over a period of time, [people] tend to become carbon copies of their chief. The simplest way to get high-level performance is to make sure the master copy is worth duplicating.” (!)
So, how can we make make sure that, as master copies, we are worth duplicating??
Fortunately, Schwartz includes a checklist to make sure that we are thinking progressively in four areas: work, family, ourselves, and our community. Keep it handy!
Do I think progressively toward my work?
- Do I appraise my work with the “how can we do it better?” attitude?
- Do I praise my company, the people in it, and the products it sells at every possible opportunity?
- Are my personal standards with reference to the quantity and quality of my output higher now than three or six months ago?
- Am I setting an excellent example for my subordinates, associates and others I work with?
Do I think progressively toward my family?
- Is my family happier today than it was three or six months ago?
- Am I following a plan to improve my family’s standard of living?
- Does my family have an ample variety of stimulating activities outside the home?
- Do I set an example of “a progressive,” a supporter of progress, for my children?
Do I think progressively toward myself?
- Can I honestly say that I am a more valuable person today than three or six months ago?
- Am I following an organized self-improvement program to increase my value to others?
- Do I have forward-looking goals for at least five years in the future?
- Am I a booster in every organization or group to which I belong?
Do I think progressively toward my community?
- Have I done anything in the past six months that I honestly feel has improved my community (neighborhood, churches, schools, etc.)?
- Do I boost worthwhile community projects rather than object, criticize or complain?
- Have I ever taken the lead in bringing about some worthwhile improvement in my community?
- Do I speak well of my neighbors and fellow citizens?
Lastly, I’ll leave you with a quote from Benjamin Franklin that I love:
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”
ACTION
TODAY: Take one of the areas described above (work, family, yourself or your community) and answer the questions on the checklist. Determine where you are and what you need to do to make progress in that area.
FUTURE: Take some time to answer all the questions in the checklist and determine where you stand in each area. If you are reading this it’s clear that you are indeed a forward-looking, progressive person. Decide in which area you’d like to make (more) progress first and move into that direction. Then tackle another area and so on. In following along the lines of yesterday’s post, take these questions as decision criteria to measure progress as a state of being.
Think progressively toward your circles and please share this post with them via email, Facebook or Twitter, thank you!