Organizations of all sizes and varieties excel and remain viable over the long term because they do three things well. First, they take control of their trajectory, in other words they own their strategic direction. This is done by defining the desired future; aligning the organization to maximize capacity; and capturing the specific measures of performance (progress). But most importantly, successful organizations develop a culture of leadership. Leadership at all levels of the organization.
Second, successful organizations actively manage work processes. Because customers, clients, and the world we live in are dynamic, so must be our work processes. This requires a constant focus on the customer, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a robust information management system that drives effective decision making.
Finally, successful organizations know that their people are their most valuable asset. Similar to other assets, they must be grown and not depleted (consumed). Growth (learning) requires an appropriate soil (environment) and a sense of self-worth – the belief that your involvement in the organization's life is valued, encouraged and rewarded.
