In an era where global reach is more accessible than ever, achieving world-class status remains a formidable challenge for organizations. Rocky Romanella, a top motivational speaker and bestselling author, provides a roadmap to attaining this elusive goal in his latest newsletter article, 'How Do We Become A World-Class Organization?' His detailed guide focuses on disciplined people, disciplined thought, and disciplined action - principles that form the cornerstone of any successful organization.
Romanella emphasizes that organizational culture is key to becoming world-class. He breaks down this culture into three primary areas: disciplined people, disciplined thought, and disciplined action. Each area is further elaborated with practical steps and standards of excellence.
Disciplined People
According to Romanella, disciplined people are foundational. Professionalism, continuous learning, self-development, and self-accountability are critical components. He insists on using only acceptable language, discouraging off-color jokes and inappropriate comments. Romanella advocates for a constant pursuit of business acumen, people skills, and communication abilities, stressing the importance of understanding finance and the use of a Balanced Business Scorecard for effective business performance. He also highlights the need for a developmental leadership model to inspire high-potential individuals and insists on self-accountability where employees 'own' their goals and understand their roles in organizational success.
Disciplined Thought
Disciplined thought involves collaborative team building, integrity, and forward-thinking. Romanella calls for a climate where team collaboration and effectiveness flourish, and where integrity guides actions towards customers, employees, and stakeholders. He stresses the importance of visionary thinking, identifying obstacles and opportunities quickly, and fostering innovative solutions. Detailed succession planning and a customer-based focus on developing solutions are also emphasized, ensuring that performance feedback is integral and solutions are continuously improved.
Disciplined Action
For disciplined action, Romanella points to balanced leadership, consistent communication, fair compensation, and promotion from within. He advocates for a balanced leadership approach that considers customers, employees, and shareholders in decision-making processes. Effective and timely communication across the enterprise is essential, as is fair distribution of rewards and a robust promotion-from-within strategy. Romanella also underscores the importance of problem-solving, celebrating success, and continuous improvement.
The implications of Romanella’s guide are far-reaching. By adhering to these principles, organizations can achieve sustainable competitive advantage, drive innovation, and foster a culture of excellence that permeates all levels of the organization. His insights are not only valuable for business leaders but also applicable to educators, small group leaders, and anyone in a leadership role.
Romanella’s comprehensive approach is further elaborated in his book, 'Tighten The Lug Nuts: The Principles Of Balanced Leadership,' which has achieved bestseller status in Business Management and Business Leadership. The book delves into his 40-plus years of experience at UPS and offers practical examples organized in an educational and entertaining manner. It is a call to action for leaders to move past the first right answer and achieve new levels of success.
For those interested in further exploring these concepts, Romanella offers a range of resources on his website, including his Leadership Library Podcast and various articles as a member of the Forbes Business Council. These resources provide powerful ideas for leaders at any level, helping them navigate the complexities of organizational leadership and drive meaningful change.
