Never Rest On Your Laurels - Even the Best Performance Can Be Improved!

As a leader you are effectively an agent for change. You must:

* Constantly review everything (including procedures, systems and policies) to anticipate what needs changing

* Involve your team in this position, both in identifying areas for change and in promoting ideas about how change should be made

* Always be open-minded, and create a culture of open-mindedness amongst your team.

Challenging the status quo – asking why? - and actively prompting change, is a key part of your remit. Keep ahead; managing today using yesterday’s methodology will never keep your team with you.

Maintaining Credibility:

If you act like a good manager, then people will believe you are a good manager. Many things already mentioned have influence here. In addition, bear in mind that:

* You are judged not by the number of times you fail, but by the number of your successes: keep an eye on the ratio

* You are more likely to succeed by sticking your neck out than by always playing it safe (through consideration and care are necessary)

* If you admit your mistakes, people will see that you are human and will help you avoid repeating them (and help themselves avoid making similar mistakes)

* You should never cut off your options until it is unavoidable: you may want the choice later

* You have to operate in a way that creates a persona that inspires respect and confidence: your success can rub off on others

Build On Success:

The ongoing success of you and your operation involves a cycle of activity:

* Understanding the key things that can create success

* Fine-tuning and building in the experience of how things worked to improve what you do next

* Being conscious of how you do things as you do them

* Monitoring the results arsing from what you do

* Planning and acting in accordance with that

So, never rest on your laurels - even the best performance really can be improved.

Jonathan Farrington is a globally recognized business coach, mentor, author, consultant, and sales strategist, who has guided hundreds of companies and thousands of individuals around the world towards optimum performance levels.

He is the CEO of Top Sales Associates, Chairman of The jf Corporation and Senior Partner at the JF Consultancy, based in London and Paris.

He also posts his highly popular daily blog for dedicated business professionals HERE