Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Tip Sheet #65

What does your self-portrait look like?

Recently, I passed a colleague’s desk and noticed this small sign.  It caught my attention so I paused to read it.  I am remiss that I did not write down who said this.  Yet nonetheless, I feel it is important to share.  The message caused me to reflect.  I hope it causes you to pause for a similar self-reflection.

            “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it.  Autograph your work with excellence.”

What does your self-portrait look like?  My artist friends tell me that a self-portrait is an extremely difficult piece of work.  What does the artist see? What does the subject see?  This is an interesting conundrum inasmuch as the artist and the subject are the same person, yet I am convinced that they see very different images.

What image do leave behind as a result of your work?  I hope it is an image of excellence.  I always wondered how much effort is required of someone to move beyond mediocrity to one of excellence.  I do not really think that energy differential is so great.  Then the obvious question arises, if is so easy, why don’t more people work toward excellence?  Why do they accept a satisfactory effort and result when it is really not that hard to do a superior job? I have not figured that one out yet but I think it has to be related to a confluence of events in one’s life.

When your work product is great, you get to autograph it with excellence.  Everyone that looks at your work will be amazed at the quality of what you produced.   It will reflect positively on you.  It will leave a lasting impression on the person looking at your work.  When you do this enough, excellence will become a habit. It will also make you feel good.  Yes, I am convinced of this!  I am also convinced that the more you push towards excellence on your journey, your destination will be easier to attain.

I can recall when I was the principal of large high school, meeting my freshmen class for the first time.  I would talk to them about how they enter high school with a blank slant, a blank canvas, and over the next four years they will have an opportunity to paint their self portrait of who they have become.  All the good and all of the bad becomes part of this picture. I always trust and hope that the good will outweigh the bad.

I told my departing seniors the same thing. How will they paint their self-portrait over the next four years?  Likewise, the new college graduate gets another new canvas to work on. Every time you get a new job, you get a new canvas.  It is a cycle that keeps repeating itself.  I believe you will always get another chance to pursue excellence.  It is up to you what you do with this new opportunity.

Will you be able to sign your portrait with excellence?