Good vs. Great

In every profession, the difference between good and great isn’t intelligence or skill, it’s
discipline and process. Good commercial pilots, sports players, chefs, musicians, you
name it, all start with skill, but the greats among them consistently follow proven
systems – even when circumstances might tempt them to cut corners.

Exceeding good and becoming great is determined by how you trust the process.
The same is true in my area. Right now, I am working with my organization to develop
the processes we need to win. I am not waiting until all the videos are made or all my
Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) written before I teach them. Right now, I do a
great deal of training every month in the field. It is the proven process I know that gets
winning results. I teach this process to our staff. I have to get them to buy-in or they will
not be successful.

The classes are a great formal way to confirm the process they are learning in the field.
By the time I finish all the SOP formal classes, I will have taught all the skills multi times.
Then why do a class on SOP? What’s the point? It is simple; to formalize the process so
others can teach it, learn it, measure it, evaluate by it, and point to our way of doing the
work.

How to mow turf correctly is a process. It’s not about just working hard and whacking
down the turf. It is truly acquiring the skill and having the discipline to consistently mow
turf correctly every day.

Great organizations define clear standards and provide the processes to get the job
done. Great leaders communicate the standards and reinforce the process. Great
employees skillfully execute the process with attention to detail.

Skill or talent may get someone in the door, but it’s process—and the discipline to follow
it—that produces excellence day after day.

The great teams create, train, and trust the process.

Jeff