dispatches from the new world of work

Excellence Is Not Enough

EXCELLENCE IS NOT ENOUGH! So declared the Father of In Search of Excellence to the staff (Talent!) of a superb professional services firm recently. At an "off site," leaders had been working on clarifying values. After some serious deliberations, they'd landed on Integrity-Quality-Excellence, and presented me their findings.

And I said (suggested!) ... No.

Of course I support Integrity-Quality-Excellence! And, moreover, the three often go A.W.O.L. And .. I think they ought to be on this Firm's list, perhaps at the top.

But ...

But all three Goals-Values-Aspirations are ... Static!

This outfit climbed to the top of an insanely competitive heap by Daring to Be Different. And my simple (and constant) observation is that leaders ... Get Conservative. Fast. Hence I argued that Goal #1 for my newfound friends was to ... Stay Obstreperous!

We ended up with the following, two sets of words, both important. The First Set are static, even imitative:

Static/Imitative

Integrity.
Quality.
Excellence.
Continuous Improvement.
Superior Service. (Exceeds Expectations.)
Completely Satisfactory Transaction.
Smooth Evolution.
Market Share.

The Second Set are dynamic, underscoring differences:

Dynamic/Different

Dramatic Difference!
Disruptive!
Insanely Great!
Life-(Industry-)changing Experience!
Game-changing!
WOW!
Surprise!
Delight!
Ridiculously Fun!
Market Creation!

My point: I think a hearty dose of both is the RX for surviving, attracting and keeping Stellar Talent, and continuing to Rock the World.

So, assuming you/your unit or firm has a "value statement," or some such, does it underscore "break-the-mold" as well as "build-an-excellent-mold"?

Excellence is not enough!

Tom Peters posted this on 11/23/04.

Comments

tom whats the point ?? One can't have a little of this and a little of that correct ?? You talk of both distruptive and emergement innovations.. yet you want, smooth evolution, Market Share etc etc..

Why is there such a gray zone, in my view point, on this hypethis of yours ?? Can one slave serve two masters ?? both living in two different worlds ?? The true intersection of a 'medici effect' is hard to come by. I'll agree its Talent under the right condition..but not Talent in two different worlds to please two diffent schools of thoughts.

"A Foolish conistency is the hobgolin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosohers and divines. With Conistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speack what you think now in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today..it it bad then to be misunderstood ?? Pythagras was misunderstood, and Sacrates, and Jesus and Luther and Copernicus and Galielo and newton and every pure and wise sprit that took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood"- Ralph W Emerson.

This very quote articulates the ideaology of self services to their own views and living true to themselves ONLY !!! Thats the virtures which are needed in TALENT..however you step into this sphere with two feet planet on either side, willing, to serve 2 masters.. both the DYNAMIC AND THE STATIC.. WHY ??????

Posted by /pd at November 23, 2004 4:58 PM

I posted w/out completion, therefore in continuum... ..

Yes, it is a backhad compliment, because I profess not understanding your posting. However, I still need to ask WHY do YOU think "hearty dose of both is the RX for surviving".. theres no meat between the bones.. on the reasons why the hearty dose of both is good !!!! Could you please explain ?? or is my take away..just meddled thoughts ??

Posted by /pd at November 23, 2004 5:08 PM

Three cheers for Steve Jobs who uttered "Insanely Great" and "Dent in the Universe".

Shake it up, be wild. It beats the hell out of the alternative.

Posted by Erick Blackwelder at November 23, 2004 9:59 PM

Obstreperous defn: Noisily and stubbornly defiant; Aggressively boisterous.

Posted by h2co at November 26, 2004 7:55 PM