3 Essentials We'll Take With Us on Our Journey Into the Future

The past two years have been the most challenging years I’ve experienced in my career as a leader. Yet we’ve had so many rich blessings as well, and much of that relates to what ProVia’s employees have been able to accomplish through a period of accelerated change and unmatched uncertainty. I’m so proud of everyone, and thankful for every single member of our team. At a recent Leadership Summit, ProVia’s leaders gathered to reflect on where we’ve been, and where we stand today. For my part of the presentation, I focused on the question “Where are we going from here?”

To answer this question, we first looked to our vision, “To be the premier building products manufacturer, providing unmatched quality and service.” It would seem that this answers the posed question outright. Ah, but not so fast. Because you see, our vision represents a journey, not a destination – in reality, we will never arrive.

3 Essentials for Our Journey

So, what exactly will our journey of being the premier building products manufacturer look like? We don’t know, exactly. But, we do know the essentials that we’ll carry, and what will carry us. I’ll add this, we already have these essentials. We just need to load up on them even more, and double down on what’s ultimately important to us.

1. Purpose

First, we must focus on our Purpose, “To let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven.” This is why we exist. ProVia’s core values are created by our purpose – they are the practical ways we let our light shine. By maintaining our values, such as Integrity, Honesty, Compassion, Generosity, Accountability, Ambition, and all our other values, this is how we let our light shine. As our founder, Bill Mullet, said, “Purpose before profit. Our purpose transcends all else.” That’s quite a significant statement, and it’s an extremely rare commitment for a company to make – doing what’s right, and pure, and good, no matter what.

2. Influence

The second thing we’ll take with us is Influence. If asked to define leadership using one word, many thought leaders would use the word influence. And the power of influence is built right into the word. In fact, the words “inFLUence” and “inFLUenza” come from the same Italian word, “influential” which means, “to flow into.” I realize now is probably not the best time to be putting it quite this way, but all leaders are contagious. The people we lead will “catch” our words, our actions, and our attitudes simply by being around us. Like it or not, our positions alone make us contagious. The important question is, “What kind of influence do you have on the people you lead?” Is it positive, or negative? Throw away the negative and multiply the positive. That is our role as leaders.

We want our employees to thrive and to have the kind of experience at ProVia they can’t find anywhere else. We want our culture to be one of community and the morale to be out-of-this-world positive. The only way to give our employees this kind of environment is when our leaders love the teams they lead, care about the teams they lead, and positively influence them on a daily basis through their words, actions, and attitude.

What kind of influence do you have on the people you lead?” Is it positive, or negative? Throw away the negative and multiply the positive. That is our role as leaders.

3. Excellence

The third thing we’ll be taking with us on our journey is Excellence. We refuse to be mediocre. Excellence is baked into both our vision and our mission. There are many things that we do in excellence already; every time we do them, we hit it out of the park. However, there are also areas where we can make huge improvements. And, even those things we do well, there is always room to raise the bar. As leaders, we need to lead by targeting, and filling in, these gaps of mediocrity. Everything we do should be done in excellence. Excellence comes from relentlessly making small improvements every day and it will be an essential part of the journey ahead of us.

Purpose, Influence, and Excellence.

These are the 3 essentials we’ll take with us into the future.

?An Incredible Journey

Over the past couple years, ProVia has experienced significant growth, and we expect that growth to continue. We aren’t excited for that growth just for growth’s sake, but because growth is a sign of a thriving organization. What we need to focus on are the fundamental things that will lead to great results, and that’s making sure we take the 3 essentials with us on our journey...Purpose, Influence and Excellence.

We’re on an incredible journey, and we don’t know exactly what it holds for us. We know it may not be easy, but it will be amazing. And we’re so thankful for, and appreciative of all who are on this journey with us.

About Brian Miller

Brian Miller is President and CEO of ProVia, a leading manufacturer of professional-class entry doors, storm doors, patio doors, windows, vinyl siding, manufactured stone and metal roofing. The professional-class designation reflects the company’s high level of quality, service and customization. ProVia’s mission is “to serve, by caring for details in ways others won’t.” Each employee continually strives to put these words into action by providing unmatched quality and service, every day.

Company: ProVia

Website: ProVia.com

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn.

This article originally appeared on the?ProVia website.