Strength of character to act, competence to achieve goals

Strength of character to act, competence to achieve goals
Thomas M Nies

Success stems, in part, from the values, wants and needs that are interwoven within individuals and an organisation, and the ways in which the individuals and the organisations resolve the many differences and conflicts that are an ongoing part of every organisation in these diverse pursuits.

Of course, one must be able to attract and retain the “best and brightest” people into an organisation in order to succeed. But, this is just the beginning. Purposes, missions and goals that stimulate and encourage people and organisations too are essential.

Within each of these areas, there are differences and conflicts. For example, just in the issue of goals with a group, there are at least four areas of potential conflict:

▪ The personal goals of the individual within the group
▪ The goals of the individual for the group and its goals
▪ The goals of the group itself within the corporation
▪ The goals of the group for the corporation and its goals

Moreover, none of these goals are static rather, they are quite dynamic. So, they must be continually monitored, modified and mobilised. One need only mention these four different possibilities, and various imagining of differences and conflicts can be quickly conjured into almost anyone’s imagination.

If these potential conflicts are not successfully managed or harmonised into a proper and productive alignment, dissonance almost always develops. With dissonance, the energy of an organisation dissipates, while the power of synergy is reduced. Needless to say, these are difficult challenges. Moreover, because of the dynamism involved among human beings, organisations and markets, these problems are never permanently solved.

Core Values

What core value traits can help organisations to optimise the most useful yield of their “best and brightest”? Experience has consistently taught and surfaced three traits, over and over, year after year:

▪ Character
▪ Competence
▪ Commitment

It requires character to act on our beliefs, competence to achieve goals, and commitment to see them through. These core values drive productivity resulting in profitability and sustainability for the benefit of Cincom and our customers. How best to describe them?

Character

▪ Ethical integrity and fundamental spirituality
▪ An emphasis on seeking solutions, not casting blame
▪ An open environment where honest communications are encouraged and honest differences of opinion are allowed
▪ A commitment to managing on the basis of sound principles. Doing the “right thing” in a professional manner is a demand we make of ourselves.

Competence

An entrepreneurial spirit that relentlessly seeks to innovate within bureaucratic structures

▪ Creativity
▪ Decisiveness
▪ Initiative for self-growth
▪ Leadership
▪ A continuous seeking of the optimal balance between flexibility and control
▪ A disciplined organisation that continues to learn and applies methods to achieve goals.

Commitment

▪ Commitment to one’s group, the company and to one’s fellow citizens
▪ Missionary zeal in representing the company and its products
▪ Responsibility and personal empowerment
▪ Encouraging people to grow and empowering them to do so
▪ Our promise to do what has been asked and our pledge to provide whatever assistance that is required to meet our shared commitment.

To be successful, persons and organisations must act with character, competence and commitment in a harmoniously orchestrated environment that energises all and synergises everything. As an employee or employer, these core value traits are essential minimums.

The author is CEO of Cincom Systems