“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
Excellence encompasses multiple dimensions, making it a multifaceted concept beyond a single interpretation. Excellence can be perceived as a feeling, a culture, or a concept, all of which play vital roles in fostering collaboration and collective achievements. As a feeling, excellence can be associated with a sense of personal experience and satisfaction, pride, or even the fulfillment that arises from accomplishing a task, achieving a high standard, or realizing an outstanding outcome. By embracing the feeling of excellence, stakeholders solving complex social problems are motivated to go the extra mile as they continuously seek innovative and effective solutions. The pursuit of excellence can be the fuel that drives stakeholders to surpass ordinary expectations and inspires them to tackle challenges with dedication, passion, and a relentless quest for positive change. This feeling of excellence is a powerful catalyst for individuals and collaborative efforts in addressing complex social problems, enabling them to make a lasting and meaningful impact in their communities.
A culture of excellence also refers to the values, beliefs, behaviors, and practices within a community or organization that consistently promotes exceptional performance, continuous improvement, and the pursuit of high standards. A culture of excellence fosters an environment where excellence is encouraged, recognized, and rewarded within the community or organization. Additionally, a culture of excellence permeates an organization’s norms, practices, and attitudes, shaping how people think, behave, and work together. Moreover, a culture of excellence contributes to collaboration and teamwork as stakeholders are encouraged to leverage diverse perspectives and skills in a culture of mutual support, trust, and respect for the common good.
As a conceptual framework, excellence represents the highest level of quality, achievement, or mastery in a particular domain. It encompasses the idea of surpassing ordinary standards and striving for greatness. In addressing social issues, the pursuit of excellence challenges stakeholders and communities to go beyond ordinary standards and strive for greatness in their efforts. By adopting excellence as a guiding principle, stakeholders solving complex social problems set ambitious goals, make informed decisions, and measure success based on their impact. This concept acts as a compass, directing their actions and inspiring them to continuously improve and innovate to address the root causes and complexities of social issues. With excellence as the driving force, stakeholders can drive transformative change and make a substantial difference in their communities.
Whether a feeling, cultural attribute, or conceptual framework, to be excellent requires the pursuit of excellence and the choice to be excellent. Aristotle, an Ancient Greek philosopher who introduced the term “the search of excellence,” said, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.” Maya Angelou, an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist, said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Throughout history, the concept of pursuing excellence has been a fundamental part of human endeavors, originating in ancient Greece, where the pursuit of excellence and the concept of arete (meaning excellence or virtue) were central to the philosophical and athletic traditions of the time. For instance, Aristotle thought excellence to be not just an act but rather a habit.
In a more contemporary context, the phrase “pursuit of excellence” gained prominence with the rise of management and organizational theories emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and achieving high standards. Pursuing excellence has been particularly influential in areas such as quality management, leadership, and organizational development. However, the concept of pursuing excellence aligns with the broader human desire to constantly improve, surpass ordinary standards, and strive for greatness in various aspects of life and work.
As it gained prominence in management and organizational theories, the pursuit of excellence holds great relevance in solving complex social problems. The principles and practices associated with pursuing excellence, such as continuous improvement and achieving high standards, offer valuable insights and methodologies that can be applied to address societal challenges. By embracing the pursuit of excellence within the context of complex social problems, stakeholders can cultivate a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Drawing from quality management, leadership, and organizational development, pursuing excellence encourages stakeholders, communities, and organizations to evaluate and enhance their approaches constantly. It instills a mindset of proactive problem-solving, pushing individuals and communities to surpass ordinary standards and seek innovative solutions. This pursuit of excellence ensures the highest level of performance and effectiveness in addressing social problems and fosters a commitment to sustainable change and long-term impact.
Moreover, the desire to pursue excellence is inherent in human nature, extending beyond organizational or management contexts. It is a fundamental aspiration to continually improve and strive for greatness in all aspects of life and work. By channeling this innate drive towards excellence into solving complex social problems, stakeholders can tap into their full potential, unlocking creative solutions and creating lasting positive change within their communities because community matters.
In community,
Dr. Pat
Patricia A. Clary is a consultant who champions the advancement of strategic community impact agendas to address intricate societal challenges through collaborative efforts, convening leadership, and effective governance.
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Patricia A. Clary, Ph.D.
Columnist Community Matters / Collaboration / Convening Leadership / Governance / Systems-Thinking
