In November of 2014 I had the opportunity to attend a conference in OKC put on by Strata Leadership. The program had a number of authors that spoke on the topic of leadership in the workplace One speaker that stood out to me was David Sturt who authored the book “Great Work: How to Make a Difference People Love.” His book focuses on how individuals and teams can achieve exceptional results by producing work that is meaningful, impactful, and above expectations. The book explores what it takes to create “great work”—work that stands out, not just in terms of excellence but also in its capacity to resonate with people and create lasting value. Sturt emphasizes the importance of passion, persistence, and the courage to go beyond what is expected, particularly in an age where organizations are constantly evolving and demanding more from their employees.
These were my takeaways:
Make a Difference: Great work starts with a commitment to making a real, positive impact—whether for the company, customers, or the community. Doing a work that reflects well on God expands the vision far beyond our imagination.
Go Beyond Expectations: Simply meeting expectations is not enough. This encourages going beyond what is expected by giving your best effort in everything you do, working as though you are doing it for God rather than just for people.
Find Your Passion: When you align your work with your passion and purpose, it becomes an act of worship and a way to honor God. Passion fuels excellence, and when your passion aligns with God’s purpose for you, the work you do becomes more meaningful.
Collaborate: Collaboration strengthens teams, helping individuals achieve more together than they could apart. It highlights the importance of mutual support and working together toward a common goal.
Take Risks and Be Courageous: Doing great work often requires stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new, even if it involves a degree of risk. It is important to embrace the unknown and learn from failure.
Persist Through Challenges: Great work rarely comes easily. Overcoming obstacles encourages us not to give up when the going gets tough, trusting that the rewards will come in time.
This is how I have tried to apply “Great Work” to my business.
Foster a Culture of Innovation: Encourage employees to think creatively and not be afraid to challenge the status quo. Create a safe environment where taking calculated risks are rewarded, not punished.
Focus on Meaningful Work: Align individual and team goals with the broader mission of the organization, helping employees see how their work contributes to something greater. This helps foster a sense of purpose. We believe people are worth the investment.
Recognize and Reward Excellence: Celebrate those who go above and beyond, creating a recognition system that highlights individuals or teams producing exceptional results, which inspires others to do the same.
Encourage Cross-Department Collaboration: Promote teamwork across different functions within the company. Encouraging different perspectives helps solve problems in new ways and can lead to better outcomes.
Provide Learning and Growth Opportunities: Offer resources, mentorship, and training that help employees grow, which in turn drives the creation of great work.
Develop a Resilient Mindset: It is crucial to create an environment where failure is part of the learning process, not something to avoid. Providing support for employees as they overcome challenges and setbacks can help sustain the motivation to achieve great work.
As we embrace these ideas, our employees strive for work that stands out and makes a meaningful difference, benefiting our company, our clients, and our community.