Leadership Qualities: Excellence means Discipline, Desire, Dedication, Determination

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Leadership Qualities: Excellence

We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle

    I've mentioned before the impact of my martial arts instructor in the realm of leadership,

and in excellence, there remains a resounding imprint of what I learned through him and in training. Excellence is made up of four segments, that is, there are essentially four qualities

that in cohesion, produce excellence. These are known as the "Four D's of Excellence":
           1. Discipline
           2. Desire
           3. Dedication
           4. Determination
I will spend a few moments on each point to clarify what it is that takes to produce excellence,

then relate that to how it makes one into a better leader.

Discipline

Discipline is the first step to attaining excellence in anything. This is one of the hardest parts,

as self-discipline and focus are often the hardest concepts for many to grasp.

Discipline requires a keen sense of self-awareness, judgement, and follow-through.

It is being hard on yourself, because you know you can do better.

It is the willful change in direction from current habits and routines to creating new,

and better habits. Discipline is the "How" in achieving excellence.

It is the moment by moment force of will you create when establishing a new goal or focus.

Desire

Mankind is interesting in the fact that he has the unique trait of do whatever it takes

to get what he really wants. We will spend countless hours in line for a new tech product,

or work a menial job to pay down debt, or even spend hours in front of tv...

We chase and pursue what we want, so the second element to excellence is desire.

You have to want to excel, to succeed. You have to find a passion, a motivator

to what you are doing. Desire is the "Why" in achieving excellence. What is it that drives you?

Why do you want to succeed in this particular field or project.

I'll take a break a make a point here too: if money, or that next promotion is the sole focus 

of desire or passion, excellence won't last. What happens when you finally get that promotion? Or that raise? Or you finally shed those extra pounds? 

Desire has to be rooted in something more concrete.

Dig deep for some strong convictions and roots as to why you want to excel,

there is where you find your desire.

Dedication

If Discipline is the "How", and Desire the "Why", then Dedication is the "When" 

of achieving excellence. Dedication is the anchor that holds us to our goals. 

When do we commit to excellence? Dedication says through it all. Thick or thin. 

It is knowing that even though I don't feel like waking up at 4:30 to work out, I do it anyway.

Or that even though this is a slow week at work, it's not the time to become lax or lazy,

but time to really push through with my dedication to excellence. Rough times or easy times, excellence necessitates a commitment. It needs dedication. It doesn't just happen.

Determination

Finally, Determination gives us the "To What Extent" of achieving excellence.

Am I willing to overcome any obstacles, distance or hardships that are thrown my way? Determination says, "Bring it on." A determined person is that person who stares down adversity

in the face and laughs. Excellence is achieved by weathering any obstacle or problem with vigor.

      So how does all this relate to being a good leader? By nature of the word itself,

excellence is seeking the absolute best. A good leader, better yet, an excellent leader

applies the "Four D's" to every part of his life. Whether work, play, home or school,

a good leader leads in excellence. He or she drives his team to pursue excellence

by setting a pace and expectation of excellence. A good leader coaches and drives his team

or employees to chase after excellence. Let's face it, excellence doesn't come naturally,

it requires hard work. It's something we all shoot for.

In closing, I point back to the quote at the beginning: "Excellence is not an act, but a habit."

It is a lifestyle. It is holistic. It is a pursuit that pushes us to do our very best,

and in turn inspiring others to do their very best. Creating a habit of excellence is not easy,

but it is worth it every moment of hard work. Discipline, Desire, Dedication, and Determination. These are the four D's of excellence. 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-qualities-excellence-ron-phillips-jr-

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To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.”

How can you take control of your emotions by becoming rooted in yourself?

My responses are at the end of Colisnicencu’s article.

Photo by M'reen, 

this was one magnificent tree with roots hanging over a precipice, difficult to climb down.

How can you take control of your emotions by becoming rooted in yourself?

Colisnicencu Daniel

Herman Hesse, in his book Siddhartha (a must read) suggests that one thing is all things and all things are one.

A person is a rock just as much as the rock is the person.

Time is an illusion. Within the child lies an old man and vice versa.

But this is an extremely confusing concept with little to no practical application (unless you’re a monk).

Therefore, I shall define being rooted in one’s self as being in a calm state of mind where you are unaffected emotionally by outside influences.

Why bother reading about this?

Regardless of your belief system let us all agree on one thing:

There is no logical reason for us to get emotional about stuff.

Let’s say you are religious and/or believe in an afterlife.

Why would it matter what happens to you in this life when your real life starts afterwards?

When someone close to you dies, why do you get sad?

Let’s say you are atheist and believe there is no ultimate purpose to life.

Then why get angry when the dog broke your favorite vase? What’s the point? Who can you blame?

Will getting angry at a pudel solve anything?

Perhaps you are Buddhist and believe your ultimate purpose is to reach enlightenment/nirvana.

Then why worry about worldly things? Why worry (for example) about what your friends think of you?

Regardless of your belief system, why let your emotions get to you?

Why not let your emotions get to you?

I’ve been asking quite a few questions (about time I gave some answers).

We humans treasure our feelings. They drive us; they are the spices to our lives.

They motivate us to keep going, but they can also become a brick wall in our paths.

We all love our feelings (when they’re on our side).

What about when they go bad?

Most of us go to ridiculous lengths not to feel bad.

We skip job interviews because we forgot to shave; we ignore our spouses calls/emails because

were too afraid to dump them in person (or over a text for that matter).

Fear limits us from achieving our full potential.

But fear can be overcome.

What if you could control your emotions? What if you could feel only what you want to feel

and just brush aside anything else?

This is the power of being centered, the power of being rooted in your own being.

Will machines take over the world?

As technology advances we are becoming more and more fascinated with robots (and the robot apocalypse).

Imagine yourself as one such robot.

As a robot, you receive info from the outside world.

When someone says a funny joke, the info is registered by the robot mind.

Then, you consciously decide your course of action:

Laugh;

Don’t laugh;

Get offended and punch him in the face.

What’s the difference between robot you and human you?

Humans make their decision on whether to laugh or smack you in the face on an unconscious level.

They cannot choose their response (they respond instinctively regardless of logic).

You might know that the joke was not meant to be offensive but still punch your friend’s teeth out

(you can’t help it).

The reasons for this are your emotions and your inability to control them.

So, how can I take control of my emotions?

I’m guessing you wouldn’t want your brain replaced with a microchip, but controlling your emotions sounds pretty good, right?

In order to do so, you must transfer control of your emotional responses from your unconscious mind to your conscious mind.

For many reasons, a complete transfer of control is impossible.

Regardless of how much training you go through, you just can’t help but get emotional when a gun is pointed at your head.

But you can get enough control to manage your every day responses.

You can learn to remain calm when someone is yelling at you.

You can learn to keep your cool and think clearly when your business project is about to implode.

How can you learn to do so?

Here are 3 surefire ways which, together will increase your self control by leaps and bounds:

1. Meditate for 20-30 minutes a day

In order to gain control over your head you must first clear your brain.

Meditating daily will make you more rooted in yourself.

You will become less reactive to outside stimuli (and less emotional).

This does not mean you will lose your sense of humor.

When your friend tells you the story of how he pissed his pants in English class you will still laugh.

But you will do it because it’s funny, not because you want to please him, not because all your other friends are laughing and not because you want to feel superior to him.

2.  Talk to random strangers as often as possible

This is something I’ve been struggling to do for a while now.

For obvious reasons, such an endeavor can be rather difficult.

However, the benefits are worth it.

Others are one of the biggest reasons for our bad emotions.

By meeting new people daily, you will gain a higher understanding of human nature.

You will encounter all sorts of behaviors and, with time become immune to them.

A very social person once said:

“I’ve reached a point where if someone were to walk in front of me, turn around, take down his/her pants and take a crap, I’d be like ‘cool’ and move on”.

3. Do things which feel uncomfortable

Take uncomfortable action.

Do you cross your arms right above left? Try and do the opposite.

Do you not like physical exercise? Go to a gym.

Push your comfort zone!

The more you do it, the more you will realize there is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it.

Remember: The more you do, the less you will fear.

In conclusion

By practicing 2 and 3 you will become immune to outside influences. By meditating you will boost their effects.

You will become more confident and rooted in your own belief system.

You will stop reacting based on what you think people or the world wants you to do.

Once you internalize the fact that, in the ocean of new events and people, you are the only constant, you shall trust your judgment above all else.

Your emotions too will surrender to your judgment.

Begin today.

Do that thing you’ve been postponing. Go for a walk and talk to whoever crosses your path. Learn how to meditate.

Spread your roots.

http://www.growupproper.com/how-can-you-take-control-of-your-emotions-by-becoming-rooted-in-yourself/

M'reen: "I honestly can’t say that I understand this blog. I can appreciate that the author has gone to a great deal of soul searching and is genuine in his desire to share for everyone’s benefit.

I can understand the point of his questions and that they are ideals to strive to as often as is possible 

and that that often will become more the more that you progress along your path of acceptance.

He uses emotions as the driving force of our subconscious reactions and I’m cool with that concept.

But where do these emotions come from?

I believe that they come from our beliefs that were absorbed in childhood before we had the ability to question their validity.

Quote: “This is the power of being centered, the power of being rooted in your own being”.

This reminds me of a fantastic hypnotherapy script where by an abused person sees themselves as a rock in a river that flows around them. Obviously there is a lot more as the river in question becomes cleaner and more of a friend.

Quote: “They (humans) cannot choose their response (they respond instinctively regardless of logic)”.

Sometimes ‘the devil does take over,’ even some laws recognise a crime of passion. But, yes, increasingly we can feel and then choose how to express that feeling or not in this particular situation.

Quote: “You can learn to remain calm when someone is yelling at you.” I’m sure that the author recognises that being calm in such a situation is not enough. That you need to be energetically calm, that is you are not sending out frazzled vibes. Also, it is useful to have verbal and postural skills etc to diffuse a situation because the person being aggressive may feel impotent and up their ‘attack’ in order to feel that they have achieved.

1. Meditate for 20-30 minutes a day. I cannot comment on this as meditation is not something I‘ve practised. 

I much prefer to spent 2 ½ minutes centering and/or 5 minutes getting rid of stress.

2.  Talk to random strangers as often as possible. I’m not sure that this would help me. I’ve noticed myself 

and other ladies backing away from a perfectly nice English gentleman who just passes the time of day. 

A stiff upper lip and English reserve is a difficult thing to overcome.

Quote: “You will encounter all sorts of behaviors and, with time become immune to them”. I can understand actively practicing your skills of interaction but I don’t necessarily think that you develop these by chance.

3. Do things which feel uncomfortable. This is something I’ve done many a time and others will say that after having faced a particular challenge that they can now face anything. However, unless something is forced on you, e.g. an accident or immersion therapy (being dumped into a pit of snakes – ask Indiana Jones' opinion);  you can only successfully go from a position of confidence and so are really only taking the next step.

Quote: “You will become more confident and rooted in your own belief system”. Following my arguments I can readily agree with this as you’ve grown into the actualising of your adult belief system that forms you emotional responses.

That is enough for now or I shall be commenting on every line.

Why not add your two-pence worth to this article?"

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