“The Power of Leadership”

Everyone I’ve met and gotten to know well who adheres to this discipline has been successful and everyone I’ve met and gotten to know who ignores or fails in this discipline has ultimately been unsuccessful.  This one discipline is either so powerful on its own that it literally determines success and failure or is so dramatically telling of the underlying personal leadership characteristics of the individual that ultimately determine success and failure, I’m not certain.  But I do know that there is a rock solid connection and I’m not alone in this awareness.

The discipline I’m writing about it punctuality.  Being where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, without exception, every time, and all the time.  I cannot simply express how important I believe this is and how telling I believe this is as a test given that there is an underlying connection between punctuality and integrity.

Being on time gives you the right to expect and to demand that others treat your time with respect.  You cannot hope to have others treat your time with respect if you show no regard for theirs, you have no moral authority, no leverage.  But the punctual person gains advantage over staff, vendors, and clients.

I have determined that a person who cannot keep appointments of time and schedule cannot generally be trusted in other ways either.  There is a fundamental expression of dishonesty exposed in lack of punctuality which you will typically find expressed again later in lack of respect for other’s rights, opinions, and agreements.  Therefore punctuality can serve you well as a general rule of initial due diligence regarding whether or not to do business with someone.  Violate this guideline if you wish, but I expect you will eventually get burned by that relationship.

“There cannot be a crisis next week.  My schedule is already full.” – Henry Kissinger

Have a great day!

Shawn
Performance Institute – A Global Leader in Human Capital and Business Development

Russ M. Miller, LLIF – Chairman & CEO

Sunny Hong Zhang – Managing Partner – China

Shawn M. Miller – Managing Partner – USA

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