Cultivating Greatness: It’s a Leadership Choice

Good teams tolerate poor circumstances to get things done. Great teams command
circumstances to achieve excellence.

Greatness doesn’t happen by accident. It doesn’t appear because people work harder,
stay longer, or care more. Greatness is a leadership choice.

When leaders choose greatness, they lead with clarity, trust, and intention. Teams stop
reacting and start performing. When they don’t, even good teams stall—buried under
micromanagement, unclear standards, and missed opportunities.

The good news? You can choose to move a good team to great—starting with how you
lead.

Over the years, I’ve worked with leaders who, like me, want to be the best at what they
do. From those conversations and my own experience, a few non-negotiables
consistently show up on great teams.

Envision Consistent Greatness.
What does greatness look like for your team, your customers, and your industry? Clear
standards create direction and consistency. Walt Disney envisioned an experience
where every detail mattered—where families felt joy, trust, and wonder. That clarity of
vision built one of the most enduring brands in history. When leaders define what
excellence looks like, teams know how to deliver it consistently.

Build Trust and Accountability.
Trust doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built. Communicate the vision. Set expectations.
Be present. Coach John Wooden famously posted his Pyramid of Success in the locker
room and never missed a practice, offering feedback and recognizing wins along the
way. Invest in your people through learning, skill development, and leadership training.
When trust grows, teams gain the confidence to perform—even when the leader isn’t
present.

Lead with Intention.
Great leaders don’t wing it; they design their leadership. Know your strengths and
weaknesses. Identify areas for improvement. As Simon Sinek reminds us, “Leadership
is not a license to do less. Leadership is a responsibility to do more.” Make intentional
changes that create clear development paths and prepare your team for today’s work
and tomorrow’s challenges.

The ability to see the bigger picture—to envision greatness, earn trust, and lead in
service of the team, the organization, and the customer—isn’t accidental.

It’s a choice.

Every day, ask yourself: What is one choice I can make today that moves my team from
good to great?

Then act on it.

Keep choosing greatness,
Jeff