Reflection on Success in Business & Life
Once you really understand this concept "What you get is what you tolerate" you will realize how much it is shaping your life, your business and your management style.
The ultimate rule that governs success in your Business, Leadership and Life.
If you tolerate that people in your team show up late to work even if you don’t like it and do nothing about it, your direct reports will show up late for work no matter how much you complain about it and soon this will be the unspoken work rule.
If you tolerate for example that your son spends hours and hours on social media saying to yourself that this is the new generation style, and everyone nowadays is doing it. Then this will be your son’s normal life style.
If you tolerate that your team delivers projects on last minute and give them excuses such as: “it’s a big project, it’s our first time to deliver such a project, they are not trained, or the team is underpaid or a certain person is having a crisis”, etc. you will have to accept last minute projects’ delivery and the panic accompanies it each and every time you have an important project to deliver.
The list just goes on and on and on and you are accepting because of beliefs or convictions such as “This is how they are, this is how I am, people do not care about this or people do not care about me”, etc. but the sad part is, you will get more of what you tolerate, because simply this is what you have accepted.
So if you are not ok with a certain behavior, an attitude, or a result, in your business or life. Simply do not accept it and do something about it.
But: How do I do something about it? Where do I start?
Well, review the below quick tips which will help you succeed in changing the unwelcomed results in your work and life only if you are willing to do something to change it.
1- First ask yourself: Why am I accepting this? What benefits am I getting by accepting this?
Write down the first answer, then ask the questions again. For example your first answer might be its easier this way, then you ask the question: So Why is it easier? And the answer might be: it saves me time communicating with my team then when you dig a bit deeper you might realize that you don’t like to create confrontations or to alienate your team against you. Keep jotting down the answers on paper to gain more clarity about the real reasons. Clarity precedes Change.
2- Once you are clear get to step 2 and ask yourself: Am I going to be silent about this? or do I need to change it? Am I happy with the results or Do I need to have different results?
If you answered yes and confirmed that you are not accepting this behavior or not liking the results go to step 3.
3- Think about the costs of what you are tolerating, whether processes at work or people attitudes and things that you are accepting in business or life. For example friends and family whom you are becoming unappreciative of the efforts and time you are giving them.
4- List all the benefits and the gifts that you are going to get once you change the situation and how the new style will boost your energy and positivity.
5- Then Spend some time Thinking and asking: What are small actions do I need to start doing today to turn things around? And incorporate those actions into your daily routine and plan.
6- Do not rush things or get frustrated if you don’t get immediate results. This is a process that needs time and patience.
Sometimes I used to blame myself at work for putting extremely high standards for myself and team and used to ask myself am I being fair for doing that to myself and the people I work with whom I appreciate so much, while others are not putting any effort????
Today I know the answer is yes. It worth all the hard work and the endless conversations because when you do not compromise high standards they become the norm. Excellence becomes your default.
Finally remember there is a big difference between what you tolerate and what you accept. This is a key factor in successful business and life.
Written By Lina Ayesh
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