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🤸 Setting vs. hoping for high standards, $120k lessons from Codie Sanchez, & a dose of Rafa Nadal

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Cristina & Jenni
October 26, 2023

Hey — it’s Cristina & Jenni.

This week, we’re sharing:

  • how standards can help us go from hoping for great results to achieving them

  • 9 timeless lessons from Codie Sanchez’s business coach worth $120k!

  • Wisdom from Rafael Nadal

One more thing 👀 

We’re running our Q4 leadership group coaching session next month on November 21st from 6-7:30 pm BST. 🥳 And guess what? It’s virtual, so you can join no matter where you are. We’re only taking the first 4 people who respond to this because we want to keep it small and focused. Can’t wait to see some of you there.

Enjoy!

What we’re reflecting on this week
Standards.

They’re what set apart the exceptional from the ordinary.

This was highlighted brilliantly in Shane Parrish’s new book “Clear Thinking,” which got me thinking about the crucial role of setting high standards as leaders.

While the idea of high standards isn't new, reflecting on recent chats with startup founders, CTOs, and marketing heads brought it home for me.

In these conversations, I consistently heard about the challenges leaders face with their teams:

  • Setting clear expectations

  • Feeling like the team doesn’t care

  • Balancing high demands without overwhelming them

  • Inspiring them to exceed their own expectations

  • Aiming for and meeting ambitious targets

Sound familiar?

Despite the different contexts, workplaces, and roles, I sensed one underlying issue:

The lack of high and/or clear standards.

Simply put, great leaders don’t just hope for the best, they define it. They lead by example, setting the bar for the rest. Nothing fuels growth and inspiration like high standards. Shane Parrish nails it:

“Champions don’t create the standards of excellence. The standards of excellence create champions.”

And isn’t this evident when we look at the world's top athletes and teams?

Let me visualize this with the simple diagram below:

  • High standards guide our actions.

  • Consistent actions become our habits.

  • And these habits? They shape our results and outcomes.

By championing high standards, we:

  1. Amplify our team's potential, inspiring them to exceed their own expectations.

  2. Offer clear expectations and clarity on goals and performance metrics.

  3. Signal to our team that our commitment goes beyond the company's growth – it's about individual and collective success.

To achieve the extraordinary, we have to redefine what's ordinary for ourselves and our teams.

So, how can we set higher standards in our day-to-day?

Let’s take a page out of Henry Kissinger’s book. 📚

The former US Secretary of State was known for his pursuit of perfection, especially in speechwriting. Winston Lord, one of his staff, once presented a memo to Kissinger after days of hard work. Kissinger’s response? A pointed question: “Is this the best you can do?”. Lord said no, and revisited his work, not once but multiple times, each met with the same curt question. Only when Lord confidently affirmed his best did Kissinger read the memo.

What can we learn about Kissinger’s method?

His question, “Is this your best work?” is a powerful prompt. It helps people think more about their work and pushes them to do even better.

But here’s the thing: we shouldn’t throw this question around every time we see work that could be better.

Instead, here’s a more effective way to use it by approaching such situations with curiosity and empathy:

  1. First, if someone’s work isn’t great, try to understand why. Maybe they had a bad day or didn’t get the right instructions. Assume positive intent.

  2. If it makes sense and feels right, then ask them if it’s their best work. Make sure that it’s communicated in a way that fits your leadership style.

  3. After that, review their work and give them consistent, honest feedback. By setting clear expectations and regularly checking in, we build a culture where 'good enough' evolves into 'exceptional'.

The key takeaway here?

Know the potential of your team and help them reach that level every time. Instead of just hoping they’ll do great, make it clear that you expect them to.

→ How do you champion excellence in your team? Do you gather insights on the challenges they face? Maybe it’s time to raise your standards and discover the heights your team can truly achieve 💪

What we’re learning this week
What we’re enjoying this week

The perfect pairing with this week’s reflection on high standards? Click on the image below for a little dose of Rafa Nadal and his personal philosophy on excellence. 🎾

That’s it for this week — thanks for reading.

See you next Thursday! 🤸‍♀️

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