If you’ve been on the receiving end of one of our programs, you have probably heard us say over and over again the importance of growing. Our employees want, need and ask for opportunities for growth, and as their leaders it is our responsibility to make sure we are challenging them, but let’s not forget the need to challenge ourselves.
We are constantly faced with new challenges. Are you the type that responds habitually to whatever comes your way because that’s the way it’s always been done and it seems to be working? Have you given any thought to investigating new ways to handle issues as they arise? It’s important that we expect a certain level of growth from ourselves as well.
Think back to a time when you developed a new process or discovered a more efficient method. It is energizing! What a great way to motivate yourself or your employees. When you find a new system that works, things start to get a little more exciting. When things are a little more exciting, it’s more fun to dig in deeper and work harder.
Imagine how that translates to the bigger picture. How does the better end product/service affect the organization, the team, the individual employee, the customer, and ultimately the bottom line? If we work with a renewed enthusiasm we certainly would be more invested in our product/service, which would lead to being more loyal to our product and organization, which would then lead to a better product/service for our customers, which also leads to more customer loyalty. Customer loyalty means our customers come back to us exclusively which leads to increased profits.
The lesson here is not to become complacent. Don’t do what you’ve always done because it gets the job done. Be open to new ideas, new strategies, and new processes that can improve what you are already offering to your customers. Make it a point to find ways to challenge yourself: take a class on something you’ve always wanted to learn, become a mentor, take advantage of opportunities.
Ian and I are continually learning, most recently with our online presence, and what has become clear is the more we learn, the more we want to learn, and the changes we make are a time investment, but in the end prove valuable to us in so many ways, but most importantly they allow us to provide a much better product to our customers.
It is exciting for us to watch participants of our programs leave with a renewed and refreshed excitement for the difference they can make in their lives, in the lives of their employees, and in the impact they can make on the organization they are part of. Challenge yourself today to find areas of improvement. The time you invest will certainly save you time in the long run.