Commitment #10, a focus on always moving toward excellence…
10 COMMITMENTS
- No Shortcuts
We will teach you the safe way, provide you safe equipment, fix it when it breaks. Do it right and safe.
- Safety Freeze
Watch out for others, guide and teach “rookies,” hold others accountable for safe practices.
- On Time and Quick Start
Be there, start timely.
- Work Smart – Technique and Consistency
Learn the right techniques and work at a consistent pace.
- Work Hard – Strength and Speed
Build endurance and push for faster production.
- Teamwork
Teammates support, cooperate, encourage and motivate each others. Be a good team member.
- “Customer Quality”
Know your customer and exceed their expectations.
- 100% Uptime
Learn to understand your tools and machines. Maintain them. Report little things before they become big.
- Lean and Clean
To run lean, we must have good housekeeping. Keep your area clean.
- Better or Worse?
If you are not moving toward excellence, you are drifting toward mediocrity.
I love reading about coaches. Recently, I read a book called “The Education of a Coach” by David Halberstam. It was a biographical analysis of Bill Belichick’s coaching history as he became one of the most successful coaches in National Football League history.
If you were to read the book you would learn the tremendous value Belichick placed on learning. It was his practice to spend the early part of the off-season traveling around and visiting other people who could teach him more about coaching a successful football team.
There was a story that struck me. After winning his second Super Bowl, Belichick went to visit retired NFL coaching great Jimmy Johnson. Johnson had won two Super Bowls but not a third. Belichick wanted to see what he could learn to improve on his record.
Johnson came up with a surprising insight. He suggested that the answer to winning a third Super Bowl was to figure out a new approach rather than attempting to do the same thing which won the second Super Bowl.
Johnson advised Belichick that success changes things. Players have a different approach once they have achieved a certain level. The things which motivated them to achieve success may not be the same things which cause them to maintain success.
Competition will respond differently. Everyone wants to knock off the champion. Everyone will devise strategies to counter their success. The climate changes.
So, the learning for me is that there is no room for complacency. We have to be innovative. We have to set higher standards. We have to look for fresh approaches.
Leaders look for the edge of excellence. That’s the difference in sustaining a great company.
