As January 2026 continues to roll out and our plans begin to take shape from idea to action, as leaders, we need to ensure the greatest possible success by modeling the behaviors that will move plans into contribution.
The saying that actions speak louder than words is as true today as it has ever been in history. When leadership demonstrates commitment, action, effort, etc., then those in roles that support the planned objective get caught up in the flow of effort. It is almost impossible to stop the flow of energy moving in a given direction. Like a river cutting its way through a plateau, creating a canyon, moving both solid rock and loose particles, the behaviors of leaders influence all the people in and around the business, moving them to join in the process of creating something special.
It is critical that those behaviors that drive the business forward are, in fact, a good influence on the team. Bad influences are all around your organization. From competition to customers and even employees who have soured over the years. These bad influences can seep into the organization and begin to redirect effort in ways you don’t realize until later.
As a leader, you must put in place the framework and foundation on which everyone in the organization is to thrive. It starts with having a clean, concise purpose, core values, and a principle model, and then holding yourself and all team members to those standards. Each and every decision MUST be made in accordance with the organization model, without exception.
Team members will attempt to break the model not to spite leadership, but because they are influenced by external factors. These can be friends, family, co-workers, competition, and even other industry challenges. They might see something in the news or on social media and think it should apply in the company they work for. Without standards, a framework, and a foundation, the organization is subject to cracks and instability.
There are definitely continuously improving ways to produce your goods or services, and these should be woven into your systems and processes. What should govern how they are integrated should be your Core Purpose, Core Value, framework, and foundation. This is what keeps your business aligned and moving in the correct direction. If this gets out of alignment, your business can push or pull into additional challenges, which now consume time, dollars, and resources.
It seems so simple and straightforward, so why do so many businesses never get there? Upfront investment and the discipline of leaders to hold themselves accountable to the model. When thinking about the upfront time, too often this part of crafting the future of a business is reduced to a few hour session and some nice words on the whiteboard. They sound good and should be helpful in marketing the business, but do they really reflect how each and every decision will be made? Will the leadership team hold themselves to the standard, or will they be the first to deviate and craft some reason to justify their actions?
It is easy to say you will hold yourself to a standard. When push comes to shove, where will you stand?
Your team will only be as solid on the success framework as leadership is. So this week, take an in-depth look at your modeling and influencing. Is it contributing or detracting? Maybe 2026 is the year you need a Promise Guide to assist you by being an accountability partner? Give us a call at MI (313) 527-7945 or FL (407) 984-7246
Journey On!
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QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS – EMAIL US AT PARTNERS@JKLASSOCIATES.COM OR CALL OUR OFFICES – MI AT (313) 527-7945 FL AT (407) 984-7246
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