"Consistency generates momentum, and momentum will either work for us or against us depending on the quality of our work."
— JSP
Many leaders underestimate the power of consistency. I'm sure you're familiar with the phrase "A race against time," it's a race that time will win unless we learn the best use of the time allotted.
Well thought out strategies enables us to efficiently manage our use of our time, allowing us to thrive with momentum instead of buckling under the pressure of time constraints.
Did you know consistency enabled the Empire State Building to be completed in less than 500 days?
An assembly line model was chosen for construction to harness the power of consistency.
The Empire State Building's steel structure rapidly ascended New York's skyline at the astounding rate of more than four stories a week!
The structural steelwork was completed twelve days ahead of schedule.
From the demolition of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel to completion, the construction took 410 days.
The Empire State Building was eventually finished ahead of schedule and under budget!
I'm sure the early stages of the build didn't feel like much, but their consistency began to produce the tangible results of the daily process over time. The law of increase began working for them.
The momentum consistency provides will soon have you working more intelligently, with your instincts becoming sharper as a result.
3 Benefits of Having Consistency Working For You
1. Consistency creates stability
Stability can be gauged by our attention to the process, not the outcome. In other words, it's the quality of the process that dictates the quality of the product. Like the Steelworkers at the Empire State Building, their consistent attention to detail during the process produced one of the most stable buildings in New Your City. On July 28, 1945, an Airforce B-25 bomber crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building, between the 78th and 80th floors, leaving an 18-by-20-foot opening in the building. The steel workers' consistency in the construction process enabled the structure to maintain its integrity.
2. Consistency produces measurable statistics
The Empire State Building steelworkers delivering more than four stories a week are certainly the type of quantifiable statistics worthy of emulating in any line of work. Whether at home or the office, consistency changes character, produces better outcomes and keeps you ahead of the curve. How consistent are your deliverables?
3. Consistency establishes credibility
Consistency requires integrity which demonstrates credibility. Consistent behavior models a lifestyle of productivity with integrity, a character trait of Level Three Leaders. People will naturally follow leaders who routinely accomplish their stated objectives.
Credibility is earned over time by demonstrating endurance daily, one step at a time. No amount of talent can sustain growth without a commitment to consistency.
Connie Wedel, Founder & CEO of HR Without Borders, observes, "People who work with integrity consistently do the right thing in just ways. Their behaviors consistently align with their values. They treat others with decency and fairness. Time and time again, when you behave with integrity, you build your credibility."(1)
Practice Consistency
A life-changing experiment with consistency should always begin with family, our most valuable relationships. Who we really are is who we are at home.
John Maxwell says, "Consistency means you give a little bit of time to each area every day and stick with it.
Maybe to start with, you spend 5 minutes every morning listening to your spouse.
You dedicate 15 minutes every evening to playing with your kids. You put $50 into a savings account every week. You exercise for 15 minutes a day.
It won't feel like much at first, but it's the discipline to stick with it that yields not only the tangible results of the investment but the internal rewards as well."(2)
“Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”
— Dwayne Johnson
End Notes
(1) “The 4 Must-Do's that Build Your Credibility” Connie Wedel https://bit.ly/3jIvg5Q
(2) “Consistency: A Wise Investment of Time” John C. Maxwell https://bit.ly/38SxA8l
*** This article was authored by John Picarello, Chief Leadership Officer at Lions Pride Leadership Co. ***