1 min readThe Intangible That Matters

by Guy Gage | February 17, 2013 | Business

I write and speak a lot about you being your best more often and more consistently. When you’re at your best, your contributions are greater and your sense of fulfillment increases.

In addition, when you’re at your best, you bring out the best in others. It’s the intangible that is nearly impossible to teach or measure, but whose results are evident.

A perfect example is in the world of athletics. There are some players who make their teammates play at a higher level. It’s hard to identify exactly what it is, but their coaches know it, their teammates respond to it and the fans see it.

Are you one of those players who brings out the best in others? Are you excellent at what you do? Do you raise the performance bar of others? Do you bring out better performance from the staff that other players can’t?  Make no mistake—this is valuable. When you can draw out higher levels of effort and concentration from your team on a consistent basis, your stock goes way up.

If you want to develop this intangible, here are some questions to ask yourself.

1. Are you excellent at what you do? Your position or title isn’t enough. You also have to be good enough to follow.

2. Do you demonstrate an attitude that is compelling to others? Energy is infectious. Your teammates will mirror your disposition.

3. Do you have high expectations of yourself and others? People live up to (or down to) the expectations set before them. Be clear about what they are and let your team know when they meet them.

This week, focus on being at your best more often, more consistently. Be a player that brings out the best in others. Be the one who has the intangible that matters.

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