While good leaders focus on building massive organisations by quantitative progress, great leaders focus on building a crisp team by qualitative progress. While good leaders are interested in visible growth, great leaders are interested in real growth. In the pursuit of numbers, good leaders settle for mediocrity, while in pursuit of quality, great leaders settle only for excellence.
Perhaps nothing more can explain the importance of choosing quality over quantity than the fact that out of millions of monkeys that Sugriva sent out in search of mother Sita, Rama only chose Hanuman to give his ring to.
In fact, Hanuman was the only person in the entire search party that Rama gave the description of his wife to. What made Hanuman the right choice for Rama? To sum it up in one word it is – discipline.
The quantum of self-discipline measures the quality of an individual. The quality of our contribution is determined by the quality of our absorption. The quality of our absorption is determined by the quality of our action. The quality of our action is determined by the quality of our constitution or character. The quality of our constitution is determined by the quality of our value system.
Beyond a certain point, one has to learn to measure the height of one’s progress by the depth of the quality of choices one makes and not merely by the expanse of the quantity of achievements. When you make qualitative investments, then eventually you get quantitative results.
Epic organisations are not built on the power of might but on the power of minds. The quality of any organisation is capped by the quality of minds it hosts. The idea of choosing quality over quantity isn’t about not wanting more people, but about wanting people who matter more. Beyond the number game lies the treasure hunt for substance.
While a leader needs quality people working for him, he also equally needs quality people guiding him. Just like the strength of a cloth is determined by the quality of textile fabric it is made up of, the strength of an organisation is determined by the quality of people it is made up of.
Beyond a certain point, one has to learn to measure the height of his progress by the depth of the quality of choices one makes and not merely by the expanse of the quantity of achievements. When you make qualitative investments, then eventually you will get quantitative results.
Take note!
Growth is not always about quantity but quality.
The quality of people who work in an organisation determines the quantity of growth.
Quality of a person is determined by his value system and discipline
Rama chose to give his ring to Hanuman from millions of monkeys for his self-discipline and character which stood out making him the only person capable of completing the mission.
(The writer is an author, Tedx speaker, story-teller, corporate trainer and visiting faculty in several premier management schools)
