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	Improving Job Performance Part 2 of 2
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	Calvin Coolidge summarized it best when he wrote, "No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." To be able to give something back, one must have some­thing worthwhile to impart. A leader, therefore, must define the vision, communicate the goals, and create the environment that can make the vision a reality. He must be capable of hiring the best people he can find, giving them the training and the tools to do their jobs, rewarding their performances, and not becoming threatened by their excellence. He must nurture their growth and teach them how to improve continu­ously, as well as allow them to question everything. This type of leader is one who learns, teaches, and has fun at the same time. Quality leadership prepares a company and its people to make a quantum leap to the 21st century. Remember that an organization of the next millennium must possess different characteristics than today's businesses do. A 21 st century organization must •     be customer-focused •     be organized around core processes •     flatter and contain less hierarchy •     make effective use of people and technology •     be a world leader •     have superb customer service, quick response, and quality. For numerous reasons, many of today's managers experience a great deal of stress and frustration when conducting their daily routines within their normal environments. Each and every one of us has felt the pres­sure, which at times can become unbearable. "Is this necessary?" we might ask, and we must wonder what can be done to alleviate such aggravating conditions. The answer lies in leader­ship versus managerial concepts. The 21st century leader is one who is capable of mobilizing and bringing together all the resources necessary to achieve the goals of the organization. Required is a person who is capable of developing a culture that is adapting to the demands of the customer and is willing to elate the customer by exceeding his require­ments. Finally, a leader in the 21st century is one who understands all aspects of the organization. Is it difficult to achieve a leadership position while having fun? The answer lies within our mentality. After a long day behind a desk, on the factory floor, in a classroom, or on the road, the most commonly made statement is, "I am tired." Such a condition is automatically associated with a physical phenom­enon rather than a mental one. None of us understands that a body is seemingly capable of going on indefinitely; however, the mind is not. Paula Newby-Fraser, the 1990 Professional Sportswoman of the Year, said, "Being a successful triathlete requires a good deal of men­tal stubbornness." Mental toughness leads to enhanced performance, not only in athletic endeavors, but in everything we do. Newby-Fraser wants us to "...stretch our limit to see what this delicate package [the body] can do." We must all be acutely aware that technology is advancing at an incredible rate. Studies have shown that most of what a person knows today will become obsolete in 5 to 10 years. Thus, it is imperative that we learn something new each day in order to remain up-to-date with new technologies and theories. This is true in all facets of life. Think about it. Would you put your trust in a doctor who is unaware of a new operating procedure? What is the worth of an attorney who is unaware of changes in the law, or a machine operator who is unfamiliar with recently installed enhance­ments? They are no longer effective in what they do, nor are they ca­pable of serving their clients. Are they having fun, or are they always worried that someone will someday discover their inadequacies? Thomas Fuller wrote that "knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it." Practice requires commitment in many areas because one cannot extract more than one can contribute. Here is my advice: •      Participate in educational offerings. Watching television is effort­ less, but does not lend itself to the education one can obtain from a seminar or a workshop. •      Become involved in managing a segment of the organization. •      Develop your leadership skills through participation. Leadership development is a lifetime journey, not a brief trip. Leaders display many characteristics of discipline. Leaders expect results of them­ selves and others, and to achieve those results, they develop har­ monious groups to tackle tasks. Coherent, well-led groups win to­ gether and collectively enjoy the results. •      Participate in a major educational offering at least once a year. Leav­ ing the office provides a means to recharge the mind and gain a different perspective. These few, simple recommendations, if adopted, will aid a person in developing the leadership skills demanded by a leading-edge orga­nization. Futuristic businesses look for a patient leader who expects perfection but has realistic expectations and is capable of being a team member as well as a team leader. Examine the following principles: •     Multiskilled people are inherently more valuable than single-skilled people. •     People working together can achieve more than a person working alone. •     On many occasions, one might find that the difference between com­ petitors is the quality of their people. Finally, one must stress the fact that an employee who is ignorant becomes a danger, not only to himself and his company, but also to his community. To obtain continued growth in all aspects of our lives, we must seek opportunities every single moment of every single day be­cause opportunity never comes—it is already here. 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