Quality 9 - Enthusiastic

Favorite Quote - "I feel sorry for the person who can't get genuinely excited about his work. Not only will he never be satisfied, but he will never achieve anything worthwhile." Walter Chrysler

Harley Davidson is the quintessential corporate American success story. From its beginnings in 1903, Harley Davidson built great motorcycles that were loved and depended upon all over the world, including the Allies in World War 2. In the early 1960's Harley Davidson owned an 85 % market share for large motorcycles in the US. After 60 years the company changed hands and the company moved. Workers were demoralized and quality declined. In 1980, the Harley Davidson market share for large motorcycle sales dropped to 30%. In 1981 13 executives and enthusiasts bought HD and the company began to turn around. What made the difference. New methods, new products, new owners all contributed to a new enthusiasm within the company and among customers. Today, Harley Davidson has total sales of 2.9 billion annually. Harley employees and owners are legendary for their enthusiasm about their motorcycles.

Reflecting on enthusiasm we see that enthusiastic people;

1. take responsibility fro their own enthusiasm. They recognize that a positive attitude is a choice.
2. sometimes act their way into feeling that way. No one feels positive and enthusiastic all the time. Sometimes we just "fake it until we make it." Yesterday on the porch, Jane Stancil came out smiling to beat the band, and so was I. One of us asked the other, "What are you smiling about?" The response was, "I just am."
3. believe in what they do.
4. Spend time with other enthusiastic people. Have you ever noticed how a negative person brings everyone down and how a positive one lifts everyone's spirits? You are most like the ones you spend time with.

To improve enthusiasm;

1. work with a sense of urgency. Set goals for yourself. Put a little quick in your step. Interact purposefully with colleagues.
2. be willing to do more. When I was out last week, several things had to covered at the last minute. The team players took on those responsibilities willingly and cheerfully, asking "What can I do to help?" Do what's required and then some.
3. strive for excellence. Nothing breeds enthusiasm like a job well done.

Only with enthusiasm can we continue to bring out the best in ourselves and in our students, or make the transition to whatever new beginnings lie ahead next year and into the future.

Quality 8 Enlarging

Guest Blogger: Barbara Cloyd, 4th Grade Teacher


Favorite Quote: "The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I'd made my teammates play." Bill Russell


When I embarked upon reading about Quality 8 Enlarging, I honestly had never heard the term used before. But although the term may seem somewhat creative, the essence of this quality is age-old. Enlarging is about individuals unselfishly using their gifts and talents to enrich the lives of those around them. Bill Russell speaks of this idea in terms of playing basketball, but enlarging is important on every team and in every organization. Whether you are the star center on the Boston Celtics, a teacher in a school, a student in a classroom, or a part of any type of group, one should evaluate "What do I bring to the table?" or "How can I make us better?" When group members share their own unique talents, they actually elevate the group to a new level. Group members admire and appreciate those who are willing to unselfishly make the group better, before thinking about themselves. When enlarging, one cannot think about how individual actions will help gain some sort of personal benefit. The enlarger must be a secure person that can look beyond possible opportunities for individual success, to see the larger benefit through helping the group. Henry Ward Beecher stated, "No man is more cheated than the selfish man." In other words, when you are willing to enlarge the group, you enlarge yourself!
Attributes of the enlarging team player:

• Enlargers value their teammates. Recognize and appreciate the strengths that other players bring to the game and utilize those strengths.
• Enlargers value what their teammates value. Players who enlarge others try hard to understand the values of their teammates. They get to know their teammates in an effort to make a connection.
• Enlargers add value to their teammates. Adding value to the team is the whole purpose of this idea. Enlargers want to help teammates improve upon their abilities and attitudes.
• Enlargers make themselves more valuable. If you want your team to be more successful, then it is important to make yourself better. Being your best helps the team reach its potential.

If you want to enlarge the team, follow these simple ideas . . .

• Believe in others before they believe in you! Be the initiator in situations and problems. Lead by example and others will soon respect your efforts.
• Serve others before they serve you. Help others in your family and work reach their potential. Offering time and support for the enrichment of others is powerful.
• Add value to others before they add value to you. The book states that as humans we tend to gravitate towards those who enrich us and move away from those who devalue us. We can enlarge people by helping them zone in on their specific talents and help them to reach their potential with those talents. We should not try to force people to embark into areas in which they do not have the talent or skills in which to be successful.

Ask yourself, "If I am not helping the team, am I hurting it?" All teams need all players to be enlargers so that the team can reach its highest potential.

Quality 7 Disciplined

Favorite quote: "Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability."

No team succeeds without discipline. I am talking primarily about self-discipline. Indeed, it is the only discipline worth talking about. Michael Jordan was blessed by the Almighty with a ton of talent. He could jump, change directions, and shoot the basketball better than most any other player. His dunks were spectacular. As a player at UNC and with the Chicago Bulls, his accomplishments are legendary. He is recognized worldwide as a winner. But did you know that the most legendary aspect of Michael Jordan's character are his tremendous work ethic, self discipline, and intensity. Sure, he was born with tremendous physical gifts, but his intensity and self discipline made him great. Only by working hard to make himself a better player was he able to achieve greatness.

Disciplined team players possess;

1. Disciplined thinking. Keeping your mind active, accepting mental challenges, and think about right things.
2. Disciplined emotions. Make sure that the emotions of the moment don't prevent you from doing what you need to or allow you to do things you shouldn't.
3. Disciplined actions. Everything you do counts. Make sure each action is well founded and in the right spirit.

To become a better team player;

1. Strengthen work habits. Do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons.
2. Take on challenges. It will strengthen your mind and your resolve.
3. Tame your tongue. Speak truth in kindness. I never regretted anything I DIDN'T say.

Great teams need disciplined team members.

Quality 6 Dependable

Favorite quote - "It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what is required." Winston Churchill

Just yesterday, I got an e-mail from my good friend Ann Miller, who coordinates programs for four year olds here in SDOC, among other things. She was lavish in her praise of one of our own, Lauren Gay. It seems as though Lauren was screening at Ravenel for next year's programs when Mrs. Miller found out they needed help with registration in Westminster. True to form, Lauren volunteered to go to Westminster and help them out while another teacher finished at the Ravenel. The other teacher left early, leaving screening still to be done back at Ravenel. Lauren volunteered to go back and finish what her replacement had left undone, after she had helped out at Westminster. This story provides a clear contrast between one set of actions that were team oriented and dependable and another set which were neither of those. What makes the difference?

According to Maxwell, the attributes of dependability are;
1. Pure motives
2. Responsibility
3. Sound thinking
Lauren did not act to make her colleague look bad. She acted because she had taken the responsibility for that screening and was determined to see it through. She knew that if she didn't somebody else would have to.

How to become more dependable
1. Check your motives
2. Discover the value of your word
3. Find an accountability partner

Every team improves when its members become more dependable.