bcg blog

Our Filter

A friend of mine recently asked me for advice on an important decision he had to make. There were plenty of pros and cons to both sides of the decision and he was struggling to make a decision he could have confidence in.

I don’t think his situation is uncommon. 
I know I’ve found myself searching for the ‘right’ answer in similar situations many times. I would think you can relate as well.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a filter, or special lens, to run these types of decisions through? Something that allows you to scrape away all of the stuff that doesn't really matter so you can focus more clearly on the few things that do? That would have to simplify the process significantly, right?

Your core values are that filter.

Why Should We Care?
Success breeds success, that is, of course, until it doesn’t. I’m sure you are familiar with a number of companies, teams, or individuals that have experienced great success only to see a quick, drastic decline in performance. Complacency or a loss of focus on the specific mission at hand are the typical culprits. Nonetheless, sustaining success requires something more than creating it in the first place and involves a transition to something success can never be - excellence.

Excellence can be sustained because it is central to us, not others. Success is simply feedback when we are held up and compared to another. 

If we’re using success as our gauge in decision making, which most people do, then our checkpoints fluctuate with what provides the best opportunity to win. There’s no consistency, and certainly no simplicity. The possibilities to consider are endless.

Since excellence is specific to each of us, the things we truly have to consider in any decision making process becomes limited quickly. Our core values provide our guide to excellence. Each decision we make with our core values as our filter, enhances our level of excellence.

REAL TALK - Action Steps
Here are a few questions to consider around your core values the next time you have an impactful decision to be made.

• Does this decision align with my core values? 
  
  • This is an initial question to determine if further consideration is warranted. If the answer is no, then you move on immediately. If the answer is yes, then you should continue considering that option.
    

• How does this decision enhance one, or more, of my core values?
  
  • It’s not enough for a decision just to align. Adding complexity to what we already have will eventually dilute our ability to focus on what is most important, and impactful, in our pursuit of excellence.
    

• What is the long-term impact of this decision on my core values?
  
  • Along with considering the present moment, we must have an awareness of the possible long-term impact of our decisions. This eagle view allows us to consistently consider how each decision relates to our values and purpose - something that’s easy to lose track of when we operate only day to day.
    

We often find ourselves searching for guidance and answers with every significant decision we make. That doesn’t need to be the case. Allow your values to be your guard rails and you will not only gain clarity, but you will also grow your integrity and confidence by living into the person you want to be.

For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. 
We would love to know how we could help!

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