Centering on the 3 C’s for Success

(2 Minute Read)

Years ago, I sat in a mentor’s office and I proposed the question: What do you want in your employees? Like always, he sat back and reflected for a moment, then he started to explain, what he called, “the Three C’s:” commitment, competence, and character. A decade later when asked what I looked for in a potential employee, I returned to the “Three C’s.” Following is a short breakdown.

Commitment
Are you truly committed to the position you are in? Or, are you always trying to find the “next thing?” In the world of athletics and coaching, it is easy to dream about the next position or the next step in your career. Keep dreaming, but be fully committed to where you are and what you have been asked to do. Everyone who is in their dream job has paid their dues and learned invaluable skills along the way. There were few things more frustrating as an administrator than having an employee always looking for the next big thing. Be content where you are for that moment.

Competence
Are you able to adjust how you do things? Are you willing and able to learn? For example, teachers and coaches are often in the profession because they are competitive and/or extremely hardworking. With that, in my experience, comes a certain level of stubbornness.  While this can be a strength, it can also be a weakness if one is not willing to learn, adjust, and grow. As we go down the road of life, we can get stuck in our ways. As an Athletic Director, I was blessed to have coaches who were on board with our goals and were willing to adjust as needed to better serve the institution. You don’t need to be able to master things on the first try, but you need to be willing to learn.

Character
If I ask you to do a task, do I need to worry it will get done? If I delegate decisions to you, will you make a choice that is best for your institution, program, or team? Ultimately, can you be trusted? There is nothing more important than trust and that trust is grounded in character. To be an effective leader and team member, character must be the focus. I didn’t want to worry about what my coaches would do in the face of tough situations. I had to trust they would make the right decision, regardless of the consequences.  Commit now to be someone who can be trusted and will not compromise his or her character in difficult circumstances.

In all, the “Three C’s” make you a better employee for your supervisor, a better co-worker for colleagues, and better leader for those whom you have been entrusted to lead. Regardless of where you are in your professional journey, adherence to the “Three C’s” will benefit you and others.