Getting better. Every day. On purpose. That could be a tattoo for the continuous improvement mindset.
Why would betterness not be a goal for each of us, both in our personal lives and in the organizations we belong to?
Betterness is a discipline, the direct result of deliberate habit formation.
What do some of those powerful habits of betterness look like?
- Caring — It’s absolutely OK to care, and to show it. We can make it a habit to demonstrate care for others.
- Alertness — Observe, pay attention, listen, ask questions, assess………….on continuous loop.
- Target Fixation — Be perfectly clear about the BIG picture outcomes we seek, and speak to others with intent to clarify that picture for them, too.
- Stop-N-Start — We can make it a habit to stop doing stuff that does not directly contribute toward our goals, and to start doing those that do. Status quo is an illusion.
- Modeling — No teaching tool is more effective than modeling. If we can’t model it, we can’t demand it. If we don’t model it, we are not serious about it.
- Refresh — Each day is a new day. We can start anew each day. Actually, we can start anew each minute.
Betterness is magnetic. Magnets are much better at “pulling” than they are at “pushing.” A good lesson to remember.
GO!
*If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to www.nelsonwcoulter.com
Nelson Coulter
Nelson Coulter has held a lot of titles: rancher, educator, author, musician, entrepreneur, coach, mentor, consultant, and professor. He has coached, taught, and been published in many settings. He has served in public schools of all shapes, sizes, and contexts. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Louisiana State University - Shreveport. His most cherished titles, however, are the ones not attached to career identity: son, husband, dad, and granddad.
