Watching It In Action

As I completed the different instructional materials from the week, I began to weigh in my mind the importance of not only who I would be as a leader, but who I choose to surround myself with as employees. Interestingly enough, while listening to a sports podcast during the week, I was introduced to the 80/20 rule. Where in 20% of any workforce or group of people account for 80% of the production. I didn't feel like this model should be something that is so easily accepted. In light of that thought, I had a very interesting experience on Friday night that highlighted the things that I both read and watched this past week.

On Friday night I attended the company holiday party for my wife's company. This company within the past 5 years has seen tremendous success. They have risen from a new product to a major company with over 250 employees. I have tried to understand how this company has been so successful. I have even emailed back and forth to the CEO of the company asking what it is that has made them successful. During this emailing chain, he mentioned something that has stood out to me ever since. It is also what I think this week's material was trying to point out. He said, "As a company, we look at implementing best principles over best practices."

I don't think I fully understood what he meant at the time. With the 80/20 rule in my mind and this quote, I watched how the leadership of this company not only interacted with their employees but how their employees interacted with each other. I believe this company's biggest success has been creating a culture wherein employees perform their best not because they should, but because it is the type of people that they are. I think this is so important. Success is a by-product of their culture, rather than the need to succeed being the point of their company. It happens naturally because of the people's principles and values.