Discovering the Unseen Arenas for Success

This article explores the arenas of success: values, responsibility, possibility, negotiation, vision, dedication, and accomplishment. It is essential to balance these arenas to reach success. It is important to take action and make these ideas part of our lives. Not only can this be applied to business and industry, but it applies to our personal lives as well.

I Am - The Arena of Values.

Every person, business, and organization holds values, even if they can't articulate them. Values define how a business runs and the way its employees act; it's essential to identify them. Ask top-level and lower-level personnel these questions: What matters to us? What do we strive to achieve? What do we believe in? Customer satisfaction is a simple value that can serve as an example. Involve as many people in the process as possible.

Values Dissonance occurs when stated values are not reflected in company behavior. To counter this, leadership must ensure all employees are aware of and committed to the shared values. Take the time to determine and solidify your values, and don’t forget to remind everyone of their importance.

Max DuPree's books "Leadership Jazz" and "Leadership Is An Art" are recommended reads on the topic. Ask yourself: Does my workplace show a strong commitment to values? Do I feel empowered and express to my colleagues, "I am" or "We are"? If not, you can work on it.

I Should – The Arena of Responsibility 

One of the arenas of success is responsibility. Businesses should ensure they are making decisions based on their values and taking into consideration the impact they have on the environment and the community. Employees must understand and commit to their roles, duties, and responsibilities, and businesses should evaluate their effectiveness regularly

When taking on responsibility, think of the acronym WISE:

W for what do I need to do?

I for how should I do it?

S for how will I measure the outcome?

E for what else do I need to consider

The essential questions for taking responsibility relate to our own contribution: what do I need to do and how should I do it? We should consider the values we possess and challenge them if we are not making a helpful contribution.

I Could – The Arena of Possibility 

Businesses, schools, and organizations often burn out from daily tasks and forget to dream. Ask yourself: what could we accomplish if we put it all together if we really stretched ourselves? Brainstorm ideas at the next staff meeting and be open to possibilities. You'll be surprised at the great ideas and dreams that come out of it. Create an environment of acceptance and see where the conversation takes you.

I Would – the Arena of Negotiation

After recognizing corporate values and understanding responsibilities, discuss possibilities with staff. Every option has a cost. Organizations must consider cost-effectiveness and decide if a successful implementation is worthwhile. This requires internal negotiation, asking qualifying questions like "I would if...".

What is the cost of achieving this goal? Is it worth it? What other changes or adjustments are needed, and are the rewards worth the effort? How long will it take to reach this goal? Is the outcome worth the effort and the time, money, staff, customers, and family trade-offs?

I Want To – The Arena of Vision 

To determine the best course of action for you or your company, consider which options you'd enjoy most. We asked what possibilities existed for your business and encouraged you to dream. Of those possibilities, which do you find most appealing? There's a simple reason for this - pursuing activities you enjoy is more likely to yield positive results.

Ideas that motivate us to strive for excellence can become our vision. Vision is an important concept in leadership development. When you know financial and time constraints are not a factor and failure is not possible, decide what you want to try. This can form your vision, which powers success. Consider the great accomplishments of mankind, and reflect on the vision that inspired them. Ask yourself what you'd like to achieve with your business or organization. Dreams and visions of a better future give us the courage to attempt things beyond our current capabilities. Teddy Roosevelt said, "It is better to dare mighty things and risk defeat than live in a gray area between victory and failure."

I Will – The Arena of Dedication 

When you've identified the vision, mustered enthusiasm, and enlisted teammates, describe the actions needed to reach the vision. Dedication is a commitment to take these steps and see them through to the end. This can include tedious daily jobs, long meetings, reflection and adjustments, and difficult conversations. Create a timeline and milestones and hold yourself accountable.

Dedication is essential for success. After identifying your corporate values and dreaming of possible outcomes, it is time to focus on the hard work that must be done to make those dreams a reality. To best prepare yourself and your team, spend some time asking questions such as: what obstacles may arise, how will we overcome them, and what rewards will our dedication bring? Answering these questions will help ensure dedication, perseverance, and inner strength when difficult times come.

You must stay the course and keep the team focused on the end goal. These steps require effort and energy, enthusiasm, and even resources and funds. Paulo Coelho's book "The Alchemist" provides a great perspective on dedication and how it affects one's life. Set realistic but ambitious goals and focus on consistent progress

I Do – The Arena of Accomplishment 

It's essential to remember that each phase of life moves constantly through different realms of our lives. We may be formulating values in one area and dedicating ourselves to something else. Eventually, we'll enter the accomplishment arena when a job is done. At this point, a few key points must be considered.

A little rest.

After all your hard work, a little rest is necessary. Don't take it as a cue to stop pursuing your dreams but rather as a reward for all your effort. Your body and mind will benefit from the break - they deserve it.

A little celebration.

Celebrations are essential in life. We work hard so that we can enjoy the rewards of our efforts. A celebration can be anything from a small dinner out to a large party with a hundred of your closest friends and business associates, or even an exotic vacation.

A sense of fulfillment.

Experience the joy of a job done well – few people get to savor this accomplishment.

A new high bar.

After achieving success, the next challenge is finding new heights to conquer. What's next for you?

Concluding thoughts

In conclusion, success is best achieved when an individual has a well-rounded approach. Values provide the moral compass that guides decisions made, responsibility encourages creating and taking ownership of goals, possibility creates opportunities for exploration, negotiation opens avenues for collaboration, vision creates a clear path towards success, dedication motivates individuals to stay the course, and accomplishment celebrates progress. It is important to strike a balance between all of these arenas in order to achieve success.