Non-Negotiable

Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.? – Winston Churchill

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Change is inevitable.? I remember hearing that as a young manager once, and it is something that I have grown to not only appreciate but also embrace it as a principle of successful leadership.? However, amidst the flux of change, there are certain aspects of our leadership that should remain steadfast.? These are fundamental aspects of who you are, and whether they be parts of the moral fabric that make you who you are or values that have deeply touched your heart and became a primary motivator in what you do.? Some might call them principles that form the foundation of our leadership.? I prefer to call these non-negotiables.? These are the unwavering principles things that make us who we are and more importantly, are defining attributes that we want both ourselves and our leadership to represent.

Every great leader has a set of non-negotiables.? Steve Jobs had something in him that others would refer to as his ‘Reality Distortion Field,’ that was often unreasonable but also pushed him and his company Apple to greater heights.? Why?? He refused to believe in limitations that interfered with his ideas and vision.? While it often rubbed people wrong, the results were remarkable.? So, it is important that we understand our non-negotiables and their impact.? Furthermore, it is important that these rarely, if ever, change.? Obviously, we want to avoid those things that are harmful to others and ourselves, but these non-negotiables are the framework of our career.? Here are the basic non-negotiables of our leadership.

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Your Why

Everyone has a moment where they understand drives or motivates them.? For me, it was to become a leader.? I remember all the mistakes both small and large that I have made along the way with their lessons learned.? It was at times exhausting, but there was a point where I figured it out.? And thus, my goal was to ensure my three children and grandchildren, of which there are ten, would know these lessons so when the time came for them to lead, their learning curve might be a lot faster.? Thus, being a better leader was not just about what I needed or what my team needed.? It was what learning was needed to teach them.? That became my ‘why.’? It is necessary for me to stay passionate and focused about the things I am doing.

We all need to be clear about what is our ‘why,’ for if we are not, it becomes very easy for our performance to drop.? Decreased motivation that causes a drop in productivity and enthusiasm, lower job satisfaction, and even mental health deterioration can all occur when we lose sight of our ‘why.’? While it is possible for two people to share the same exact why, no two journeys are entirely alike.? Thus, being clear on your why matters.? While our ‘why’ can change, it is a constant that must always be present in our leadership.

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Your Grit

There will be times where your passion is there, but your energy level will not be the same as it was when you started.? You are in a part of your journey where you are well past your beginning and yet a far distance from your destination.? To get there, it requires continuous work to maintain a high level of excellence while understanding the recognition of your efforts may be near non-existent.? Maintaining that level requires something extra.? We all reach a point where we do not feel we can go further. ?We also have a breaking point where, mentally and physically, there is nothing we can give.? Somewhere in between those two is what I would call grit.

Angela Duckworth defines grit this way saying, “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. ?Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality.”? That is the part of you that can find something to expend beyond how far you believe you can go to.? Some require a mentor or coach to push that extra while others can simply find it within themselves.? While we can grow our capacity of grit, it should be a constant aspect of our leadership particularly when the rest of the team may become uncertain in a situation.

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Your Strengths

Something that has been a trademark of my leadership is my ability to connect with others to achieve greater success for both the individual and the team.? This is not me bragging about my abilities.? In fact, the last person to find out about this was me.? However, through various personality tests and life experiences, I was able to determine this.? The greatest change in my leadership was my self-discovery of my abilities.? This allowed me to be more comfortable with those things that I performed well, and with it came the ability to learn mastering those abilities.?

Strengths are a part of your DNA.? These are the things that have been a part of you since you were a young child.? For example, my oldest daughter is a natural leader.? I knew this long before she became a manager for a transportation company.? I watched her on the playground as a seven-year-old, where she would always have kids following her around, whether it was her friends or literal strangers.? You see, while you can change your ‘why’ or increase your grit, you cannot change your strengths.? You can master them to help drive overall performance.? My greatest motivator has always been what the team needs to be successful.?

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Your Standards

As a leader, it is never just about you.? It is always about others.? However, to achieve success there must be a standard set.? Yes, there are organizational standards such as vision and mission statements, and there is code of ethics that must be adhered to.? That being said, we have our own standards, and they, much like strengths, are part of our DNA.? These are the expectations you have of both you and your team.? The better you can communicate and meet these, the more likely you are able to achieve success.

Here are a couple things about standards that should be followed.? First, a standard should be a guideline and not a rule.? Rules must be adhered to while guidelines can be flexible and bendable.? Furthermore, it allows you to manage others more effectively.? Second, everyone should know what the standard is.? This is how you build trust within the team because they rely on the standards you set even as much as the company’s vision, mission, or code of ethics.? Thus, the standard should also be in alignment with those things.? I tell my team we will always ‘Give A Damn,’ and they see that in each interaction with me even when I might not feel like it.? Why?? Because as a famous coach once said, “The standard is the standard.”? It applies first and foremost with us because we are the living and breathing example of it.

One final thought about standards.? While standards themselves have flexibility, make sure you set high but attainable ones.? They should not change and note that standards too low mean underperformance and unrealistic ones could lead to low morale.

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In an ever-evolving world, staying resilient and adaptable is crucial. ?However, it is the non-negotiables that form the foundation for our leadership abilities.? Whether you are a new leader finding your way or a seasoned leader who may have lost theirs, identifying your non-negotiables can profoundly impact not only how you lead today but also where you aspire to be in the future.? So, take the time to understand your ‘why,’ build your grit, leverage your strengths, and uphold your standards.? As someone wisely said, “Remember, the path to greatness is not a solitary endeavor but a shared journey of growth and inspiration.”? Let your non-negotiables guide you through every challenge and serve as the foundation behind your every success.

So, grab your pen and paper.? What are your non-negotiables?