You get what you tolerate

Sometimes in reading a book I will find one principle that is worth the cost of the book! This past week while finishing up "The One Life Solution" by Henry Cloud I came across an insight that was just that. He said... in life, in work, in relationships, you get what you tolerate. Let me say that again: you get what you tolerate. Both organizations and relationships have a tendency to go south without mid-course corrections. When we are willing to hold ourselves and others accountable for doing what is right our lives and organizations rise to the challenge. When we lower the bar everyone else will lower their work and diligence to hit the standard. When we fail to set boundaries in relationships people will walk all over us. When we remain healthy in interpersonal relationships and set boundaries people will respond (sometime begrudgingly). This is why as a leader I should never ask the question, "what do people want to hear from me?" rather I should always ask the question, "What do people need to hear from me?" The implications of this principle are huge... think about it: You get what you tolerate.