Build the Culture You Want to See
I’ve heard it said that it’s a terrible thing to have a big dream and a bad team. You can have vision. You can have goals. You can have a great strategy. But if you don’t have the right people around you, eventually your vision is going to be limited. That’s why I believe one of the most important responsibilities we have as leaders is to build the right culture.
When I talk about culture, I’m talking about more than what we put on a wall or what we say in a meeting. Culture is what people experience every day. It’s how we respond when there’s pressure. It’s how we handle problems. It’s what we celebrate, what we tolerate, and what we model. If I want a relentless team, then I have to create a relentless culture. And here’s where it gets personal. That culture starts with me.
You Attract Who You Are
One of the most important things I shared in this Leadership Lifter is this: “You attract who you are, not what you want.” Think about that for a moment. We can say we want people who take initiative, but are we taking initiative? We can say we want people with energy, but what kind of energy are we bringing into the room? We can say we want people who handle pressure well, but how do we respond when something doesn’t go according to plan?
Everything rises and falls on leadership. As the leader goes, so goes the team. I have to be the example in my character. I have to be the example in my emotions and in how I respond to stress, pressure, delay, disappointment, strife, and contention. I have to model hard work, creativity, initiative, generosity, and kindness. Before I ask, “What’s wrong with my team?” maybe I need to ask, “What am I modeling for my team?” Legendary leaders understand that culture begins with the example they set.
Refuse to Build an Average Culture
When I surrendered my life to God in 1975, I remember telling Him, “God, I’ll do it. I don’t want to be average.” That decision has stayed with me. I don’t believe God has called us to settle for mediocrity. Whatever He has placed in our hands, we should want to steward it well. That includes our businesses, our organizations, our responsibilities, and the people we lead.
A relentless team doesn’t settle for mediocrity. They want to do more. Those are the people I want to invest in. Those are the people I want to coach and mentor. I’m looking for people who want to grow, contribute, and make things better. As leaders, we have to create an environment where that attitude is encouraged, developed, and modeled.
Pressure Reveals Your Culture
It’s easy to look like a great team when everything is going well. Pressure tells us a lot about what kind of team we have really developed. I’ve watched people get under pressure and withdraw. They retreat. They become passive. They procrastinate. They make excuses or put off the difficult things. But we have a saying on our team: “Faith does the hard things.”
A relentless team learns how to execute under pressure. Obstacles don’t have to become stop signs. They can become opportunities to keep pushing, keep growing, and keep moving toward the goal. That doesn’t happen automatically. It happens when leaders consistently demonstrate how to respond when things get difficult. Your team is watching how you handle pressure, so ask yourself, “What am I teaching them by the way I respond?”
Develop People Who Keep Growing
A relentless culture also needs a growth mindset. We cannot become so committed to the way we have always done something that we stop getting better. One of my mentors and coaches taught me that the message never changes, but the methods do. There are principles and values we never compromise, but our methods, skills, and approaches have to continue developing.
That’s especially important in the marketplace. We have to be willing to adapt, adjust, develop our skills, and be aware of the times and trends. A legendary leader stays teachable. Ask yourself, “What do I need to learn in this season? Where does my team need to grow? What methods need to change while our values remain the same?” A growth mindset refuses to simply maintain. It keeps looking for ways to become better.
Pay Attention to the Details
Finally, build a culture of excellence. Excellence is paying attention to details. I love the principle Walt Disney shared with his team: “If we lose the details, we lose.” Sometimes we’re looking for one big breakthrough when what we really need is to improve the small things.
Think about your team. How are you communicating? How are you serving people? Are you following through? Are you prepared? Are you paying attention to what others overlook? Those things may seem small, but small things repeated consistently shape the level of excellence people experience. Don’t underestimate the details. If we want a relentless team, excellence has to become part of our culture.
Leadership Challenge
This week, don’t begin by evaluating everybody else. Begin by evaluating yourself. Remember, the speed of the leader determines the speed of the pack, and as the leader goes, so goes the team.
Ask yourself:
What am I currently modeling that I want my team to reproduce?
How do I respond when I’m under pressure?
Where have I allowed average or mediocre performance to become acceptable?
What is one area where my team needs to develop a growth mindset?
What small detail could we improve this week that would raise our level of excellence?
Remember, you attract who you are, not what you want. If you want a relentless team, become a relentless leader. Set the pace. Keep growing. Pay attention to the details. Refuse to quit. You may have a big dream, but you were never meant to accomplish it alone. Develop the people God has placed around you, build the right culture, and keep moving toward everything God has called you to do.