Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash
“You can take your leadership, your team, and your business to the next level,” I said to Cris as we connected over breakfast.
“How do you know if ‘It’s time’” he replied?
“Over the years, I’ve noticed three characteristics that indicate It’s time to go for your next level. It comes down to opportunity, DNA, and leadership.”
“What do you mean?”
Let me explain.
Opportunity
Is there any chance you might be living in Stuckville? Are you operating in your Comfort Zone where status quo behavior, yields status quo performance, and your life (business) is not much of a threat? If where you are is familiar, not challenging, conforming, without a sense of risk you’re living in your Comfort Zone.
When you feel the pain of underperformance and at the same time begin to dream and think about what’s possible, your Next Level Journey is about to start, again. Yes, it’s time to write a new chapter in the Story.
What’s your opportunity? Is it your individual leadership development and the need to change unproductive, self-limiting behavior? Is it time to expand into a new market or build your bench, so you are ready to make your move? Is it the disruption of your industry?
Opportunity is an imagined future that provides you energy to break out of Stuckville? To experience your Next Level breakthrough, you must see your opportunity, want it, and pursue it.
DNA
Besides your ability to see the opportunity, there are at least three elements of your culture or DNA that indicate it’s time to go: people focus, aspiration, and commitment to get better.
The business of business is people. The work of leadership demands the development of a cohesive team of teams. Good news: the people you train, develop, encourage, empower, and appreciate will take care of the business for the joy of meaningful work. It’s incredible.
The second part of the Next Level DNA is the aspiration to be the gold standard. Leaders who see the opportunity have this drive to be market leaders. They want to be the one chased, not to pursue the other players.
In addition to making business about the people and being the industry/market leader, the third part of the Next Level DNA is your commitment to getting better. You know you can still get better. This belief does not permit success to become the limiter to your potential. You and your team pursue the truth about how well you’re doing vs. your potential, not your competitor.
Leadership
The last indicator that it’s time to take your leadership and your team to the Next Level Journey is: you “get it.” In those moments of reflection, you realize that there is more you need, as a leader, if you are to reach your potential. You “get it” — you will succeed or fail in seizing the opportunity based upon your leadership. You understand that what got you here, will not get you there. While here is to be celebrated, there is greater, better. However, to get there something must change or you’ll be stuck here.
You know “It’s time” to start your Next Level Journey when you can see The Opportunity; you have the Next Level DNA, and you understand it all hinges on Leadership — your ability to lead your leaders, who lead their teams.
Create Space to Think
Is it time to take your leadership, your team, and your business on the Next Level Journey?
- What do you see? What’s your opportunity?
- What do you believe about business and people? What’s your DNA?
- Where will your leadership take you and your team, if nothing changes?
A few days after our breakfast, I received an email from Cris. All it said was, “It’s time.” We began his Next Level Journey.
I help business leaders reach their leadership potential.
Here’s to your Story,
Steve
Transform disruption into clarity for life and work!
Order my new book Leaders Create Space today.
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