A Culture of Excellence
"The will to win, desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential are the keys that unlock the door to Excellence." Confucius
Effective Environments, a business consulting firm in NM, writes that a culture of excellence is an organization-wide way of thinking and working that leads to a sense of “aliveness” in everyone in the organization. A culture of excellence is a conspiracy to excel, a commitment to be excellent. “Excellence” is way of being and thinking rather than a destination. Excellence is never handled. It requires ongoing invention and creation. Working daily from “being excellent” has an impact on how people interact with each other, on how the work is carried out, and on their sense of personal satisfaction.
A culture of excellence is not a set of rules to follow. Instead, a culture of excellence is a choice, derived and manifested as a commitment to go beyond the ordinary. It requires recognizing the importance of each individual and a willingness to step outside our “comfort zones.” A culture of excellence requires: • Shared vision, goals and practices • Commitment to excellence in fulfillment of the vision and mission • Mutual support for each other’s success • Clearly stated and aligned principles for working together • Encouragement of innovation and creativity • Emphasis on communication up and down the line • Emphasis on training and development of staff • Individual performance objectives set jointly by management and staff • Commitment-based communications and interactions. |
One aspect that distinguishes a culture of excellence from another kind of culture is the leadership and management philosophy. The focus is more on managing commitments, goals and results than on managing process or personalities. There are high standards of performance at all levels and people are held to account for meeting them.
A culture of excellence emphasizes standards and results/outcomes, as well as staff development, self expression, contribution and satisfaction. Leaders find the right spot for the right person. The work environment brings out the best in people. Team members strive for their personal best. Mediocrity is not tolerated. |
The 3 E'sEngagement, Enablement and Empowerment are essential components for a Culture of Excellence.
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Non-NegotiableHigh standards of performance, clear expectations, consequences and accountability foster Excellence.
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CultureCulture is a function of the values of an organization and how effectively those values are expressed day to day.
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