When I first learned to fly, it was always in great conditions. Clear and sunny skies, no turbulence and very little traffic, with my instructor handling all radio communications. This helped me gain confidence, learn to trust my instincts and develop a real feel for piloting the aircraft. I was perfectly comfortable “flying by the seat of my pants” without a system or procedure.
George Perles, assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972 to 1982, delivered a powerful message years ago. He shared a mantra from their heyday in the 1970s: “We made every decision like we were going to the Super Bowl.” Their organization made these decisions long before they reached their goal—and they ended up winning the Super Bowl four times.
If resolving business problems is making your leadership team discouraged, you’re not alone. Some of my entrepreneurial leadership teams hit an emotional wall after their first year of implementing EOS—especially if they need to resolve many large organizational issues in the company. Even when they make significant progress in the first year, they still feel unsatisfied and a bit discouraged. Why?
Jim Collins says that mediocrity stems from chronic inconsistency. What a powerful and accurate phrase.
We had a great moment in a recent client session. The team was working to define their Purpose, Cause or Passion. When you get that right, it gives everyone in the company a clear statement of “why we exist." At its best, this becomes the emotional heart of the business. It’s not something most of us are trained to think about, let alone put into words, so leadership teams often struggle to get it right.
