Zig Zigler has said, “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile!” Do you usually find yourself going that extra mile alone? We use the slang, “go the extra mile” when someone does something above and beyond their normal responsibility. If you find yourself alone on that extra mile, it is great to perform above and beyond, but it could be a symptom for other issues.
Consider the following:
1. Where is your team? If you are finishing alone, you have lost the opportunity to develop your team. There is always benefit to bringing others along, even if they are there just to observe and learn.
2. Do you give the proper recognition? Do you provide the proper recognition for others that go the extra mile? If you have failed to provide the proper recognition, people will stop going the extra mile. We all need appreciation.
3. Do you get the proper recognition? If you are not getting the proper recognition, others around you are probably not either. Working based on a sense of responsibility is ok, as long as you are aligned in your priorities and you are not sacrificing something more important.
Pat Riley said, “Great effort springs naturally from a great attitude.” A good reflection exercise for this week would be to evaluate the attitude of your team and their willingness to put in extra effort.