In most of the keynote presentations I give to leaders and educators, I share a key to success for leaders that I attempt to live out in my own life and leadership as well. So often leaders look for the right strategy or the right program to improve their services or gain the results they desire. But, truth be told, even the best strategy or program is not the key variable in the success equation. Sure, strategies and programs are important, but there is one key to success for leaders that is even more essential.
It’s PEOPLE!
That’s right, it’s your people…not strategies or programs…that make the biggest difference. In fact, according to Todd Whitaker, there are only two ways to improve schools, businesses, or any other organization:
- Get better employees
- Improve the employees you have
Think about it. We spend so much time and invest so much energy looking for just the right strategies or programs, yet more often than not these strategies and programs do not bring about the results we desire. Why? It’s usually because the people implementing the strategies and programs are not motivated or equipped to do so, it’s not necessarily the strategies and programs themselves. In fact, even the best strategies and programs fall short if we don’t develop a good team around us. Simply put, the key to success in any organization is its PEOPLE!
So, to help leaders and educators remember that THEY ARE the key to success in an organization, I share a strategy that I call the “THAT DAY” Strategy. Here is the “educators” version that I’ve been sharing recently…
- Great educators treat students with compassion, dignity, and respect everyday because they never know what day is going to be “THAT DAY” for a student.
- Great educators encourage, motivate, and positively challenge students everyday because they never know what day is going to be “THAT DAY” for a student.
- Great educators look for opportunities to build up and equip students everyday because they never know what day is going to be “THAT DAY” for a student.
- Great educators earn the right to be heard everyday because they never know what day is going to be “THAT DAY” for a student.
If you’re a leader or educator, invest in who matters most—YOUR PEOPLE!
QUESTION: How do you invest in your people?
