USING VISION, TENACITY AND PATIENCE TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS PATIENCE:

IF YOU’RE LIKE MANY LEADERS, you want things done—and you want them done yesterday. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most of us would like success to arrive in its various iterations sooner rather than later.

But as you’ve likely learned by now, being the best in business isn’t something that happens overnight. Instead, it takes dogged determination—and plenty of patience—to achieve your organizational goals.

And if you’re thinking that patience and productivity are more like oil and water than a hand that fits a glove, remember that leaders who rush things along often find themselves with more do-overs than perfected results. That’s why a calm and measured pace beats a chaotic dash to the finish every time.

HERE ARE A FEW BEST-IN-BUSINESS TIPS TO HELP YOU GET THERE:

• CLARIFY YOUR VISION FIRST. You can waste a lot of resources heading in the wrong direction if you’re not sure where you’re going.

• DEFINE WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE. If you aren’t clear about the final destination, you may not know when you’ve arrived.

• CREATE A PLAN FOR GETTING THERE. Determine what will be required and assess whether you currently have—or need to acquire—the resources to meet your goal.

• RECRUIT SUPPORT FROM YOUR TEAM. Ask for input and provide the information needed to help everyone get on board.

• EVALUATE ALONG THE WAY. Schedule pit stops to help you assess progress and adjust your strategy accordingly.

• CELEBRATE YOUR ARRIVAL! Regardless of how long it takes to get to your final destination, be sure to celebrate the success with your team.

• REPEAT. Instead of resting on your laurels once the celebration is over, set new goals and start the journey once again.

KINDNESS:

Make Kindness A Core Value Of Your Company

WHEN WE THINK OF THE THINGS this world needs more of, kindness definitely tops the list. This can be particularly true in business, where competition and the push to get ahead can be more cut-throat than kind. That can be true for companies competing with each other—and for co-workers scrambling to get ahead.

But what if everyone was kind to each other instead? What if compassion trumped competition and if those who didn’t think they mattered received a consistent reminder that they do?

Being the best in business means so much more than year-end results. Instead, leaders who strive to be the best put team welfare first—nurturing a climate of kindness that helps everyone thrive. As a result, team members will want to both be and do their best—which typically leads to positive business results.

SO HOW CAN YOU MAKE KINDNESS a core value of your company? Here are a few best-in-business tips that can help:

• PAY ATTENTION. Instead of burying yourself in work—or the smartphone in your hand—be aware of those around you and the subtle signs that they could use a kindness boost.

• SLOW DOWN. Instead of rushing through your day, take the time needed to offer a kind gesture to someone else.

• OFFER AFFIRMATIONS. Tell your employees what you appreciate about them and encourage them to do the same for each other.

• SET AN EXAMPLE. Be consistently kind to those you encounter at all levels of your organization.

• BE KIND TO YOURSELF. When you take care of yourself, you’re more able to care for those around you.

SO HOW CAN YOU MAKE goodness a core value of your company? Here are a few best-in-business tips that can help:

• START YOUR DAY WITH GOODNESS. Do a good deed for someone in your family or neighborhood before you settle in for work.

• KEEP IT SIMPLE. A grand gesture isn’t necessary to show how much you care.

• ADOPT A CONCENTRIC-CIRCLE MINDSET. Prioritize those in your inner circle and work your way out.

• BALANCE ANONYMITY WITH VISIBILITY. Best-in-business leaders are able to strike a balance between keeping a lid and making a headline when it comes to the company’s good works.