Building a culture of Excellence - together Titus Ogunyemi 3/10/2018

What is culture? culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, norms, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by people as a member of an organization.

What is Excellence? According to Google - Excellence is: the quality of being outstanding or extremely good or simply an outstanding feature or quality. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but an habit.” - Aristostle Excellence itself is a way of life, not a destination. There’s always room for personal growth. Our potential is limitless, and it’s up to us to tap into it. 

To build a culture of excellence Vision – what are we seeing that we want to do or become? It must be compelling! Set Aim and have a goal on excellence and Identified the behaviors that will reflect the culture. Build the support for this behaviors (leadership responsibilities). Proverbs 29:18 King James Version (KJV) - Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Unity - a genuine coming together for collaboration. A vision of one person, its just that but if we focus on it together and adapt the Motto of One CAC NA Youth Ministry then we will be successful. (puzzle) It shouldn’t be a motto that simply mean coming together as one but it should also mean that every church is very important – their hope, aspiration and what they like to do matters! Empowerment – people have to be able to do – they have to be able to act – It’s the drive and piece of motivation that helps people become successful at what they do. If there is a feeling of purpose and autonomy – it can equal mastery!

Next There has to be a coming together of the Stakeholders (Youth Leaders) and answer these questions beginning with. Who am I? – Every single youth leader has something special to dispense to this organization Take care of yourself first. - You can’t pour from an Empty Cup. SHINE! Who are we? Collectively we have to answer who we are or who we want to be. The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it’s a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free. ~ Charles R. Swindoll

Danger Zone! Lack of accountability Inconsistencies Lack of commitment Compromise Lack of accountability Inconsistencies  Lack of commitment Lack of boldness

Food for thoughts The underground work has to be done before the above ground exposure. No one has ever said, “That is a beautiful foundation” because most people don’t ever see the foundation. Get dirty! Everyone wants to do the above ground work because it’s prettier. The discipline of doing says there is no shortcut to excellence, you can’t fast track it. NOT MICROWAVABLE! You can’t fake excellence if you don’t have it. When what you believe infiltrates your behavior, the process gives you foundation. Never make it about the result, make it about the why? People buy into the why.

Conclusion Anytime you appear - you are communicating something...what are you communicating? We as leaders have to reflect a culture of excellence – each of us has to embrace these ideas! (JENGA). We have to truly believe what starts here can change CAC and the world – IMPACT Circle! The saying about “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks” is false when it comes to excellence...that’s the lazy approach. So, I ask that you reflect on all that was said today (weekend), perhaps not all will resonate with you but I suspect many will. Discuss it with you team – embrace and demonstrate it daily. I am confident it will make us a better organization. Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.

The End