Leadership is a many splendored thing when executed at its most pure form. One critical part of leadership is excellence, whether striving for excellence in everything you do or seeking to be excellent in a particular pursuit.
I had the pleasure of being invited to attend a performance of the SMV (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller & Victor Wooten) Thunder Tour at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA. While familiar with Clarke from the 70's, I had no real experience (except for recommendations) to Miller and Wooten. These three, true virtuosos of the bass ( in all forms) provided a most sumptuous feast of true mastery in this genre.
The musical session was an epiphany for me on many fronts and at numerous levels. One revelation manifested itself in the form of a leadership lesson in excellence. When examining the core aspects of leadership and how to master them (a never-ending journey), one should naturally think about and assess one's own, current strengths and weaknesses and how they can measure up to the mark of excellence.
There must be a diagnosis (by self evaluation or with the help of trusted and sage advisors) of what needs changing in the pursuit of professional and personal improvement whether by enhancing strengths or fixing weaknesses. Taking a line from Jim Collins' book "Good to Great, " the deeper and more valuable investigation should be to ask "What can I be excellent at?"
Forgiving the grammatical awkwardness of the wording for the moment, do you push yourself to answer this critical question? Not querying about what you are good at, or what you could add value to or even what have you been successful at, but what can you be excellent at?
Collins argues (here in my words, taking poetic license for this blog) that the best investment a company can make is to decide where it can be the BEST in its industry and pursue that objective at all costs, including any good or profitable businesses or goals, which can distract from pursuing excellence and ultimately effect the bottom line of true success. Jim Collins' writings are valuable in application not only to companies but also to individuals.
Wooten, Miller and Clarke, three generations of music and bass excellence, were on stage doing not only what they do best, but are arguably the BEST in their field, performing how they were created to (albeit with hard work, practice, determination and passion) AND having total ENJOYMENT in so doing. Three men having found what they are excellent in doing and fulfilling their life calling. Three men recognized not for what they are good at but in what they excel. Their pursuit was not for recognition or necessarily worldly success, but in pursuing what they could be excellent in. They achieved their goal and got the concomitant rewards for that achievement.
What a great lesson for us, personally, when considering what leadership means and how one can develop leader strengths! What can you be excellent at?
