Make your Bed
How can one of the most viral TED talks ever, with over thirty million views, have such a simple message?
US Navy Admiral William McRaven in 2014 made a Commencement Address at the University of Texas in Austin where he spoke to the most important lessons, he learned from basic SEAL training. He started at one with a very simple task; making his bed to perfection.
Although the SEAL group was aspiring to be elite warriors, this simple task meant that they started every single day having achieved something. McRaven said, “If you make your bed in the morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and will encourage you to do another task, then another. At the end of the day that will have turned into many tasks completed.”
In talking to leaders in entrepreneurial organisations, I believe this wisdom can be easily translated to our teams and those under our direct report. We are in a time where our skilled workforce feels under threat, with some people more than ever are willing to move to take up opportunities elsewhere.
In looking for ways to motivate and provide purpose for our people, perhaps it is much simpler than complex bonus schemes or endless pay rises. Perhaps we can take the message of Admiral McRaven and apply it in our working day to day.
If we follow his lead, we can start by setting tasks at the start of the day that give our people a small sense of accomplishment and pride. This may then lead to other tasks throughout the day that build on this initial win. By the end of the day, our people can go home confident, motivated and with the sense that they have achieved a meaningful day full of purpose.
In recognising these tasks and the role they play in the success of the broader team; we can foster a working environment and culture that values the individual effort each of us makes.
As Admiral McRaven said, the little things in life matter and if you can’t do the little things well you will never be able to do the big things.
Are you as a leader creating an environment where the little things matter?
