I was drawn to the power of repetition recently through a reference to traditions.
Traditions act as a reminder to come together and reflect. The repetition of traditions creates a cycle that passes on these learnings and experiences for generations to come.
Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, reunions, festivals and religious dates are all traditions.
A client asked me recently if we should continue to hold board meetings monthly or whether they might be held more infrequently.
This got me thinking of the critical role traditions and repetition play in business.
In my book The Fourth Moon I talk about the Third Moon of Maintenance. Maintenance is the habit of keeping your strategy alive in the business through repetition. It isn’t always sexy and fun, but winners understand the power of repetition in maintaining pivotal habits and actions.
It is through repetition that we create the leverage to reach The Fourth Moon and achieve sustainable success. It ensures we maintain our core disciplines and provide forums for reviewing and tweaking strategy at regular intervals throughout the year.
Repetition in living the values and vision of our business culture daily.
Repetition in sharing the news transparently with stakeholders.
Repetition in how we treat our customers, employees, shareholders and suppliers.
Repetition in holding our internal meetings even when we are busy and tired.
Repetition in our product or service delivery model.
Repetition in our personnel reviews and appraisals.
Repetition in our reporting and metrics.
Repetition in our sales and marketing activity.
The act of repetition often isn’t motivational or enjoyable. Often it goes against how we are feeling. The discipline of repetition can be bloody tough.
Many wane and even give up.
But sustainable success in business requires the power of repetition playing out internally to bring us together to reflect, pass on our knowledge and remind us of our strategy.
What are your traditions in business?
Commit to them.
Repeat.
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Email me at darren@darrenkbourke.com to schedule a meeting (at no cost or obligation) to discuss how I can help you achieve your business and personal goals this year.