Consistency is the most simply thing to do and be – simply be consistent. How hard can it be? Well actually it could be quite hard if not very hard. Why? Because we change our moods and states of mind almost every second. Being consistent when there is an ever changing starting point can be tricky.
Perhaps the best way to be consistent is to have a reality check, and if necessary, a paradigm shift. The reality check is that you can choose your state. Did you get it? It was quite quick and surprisingly simple. Here it is again – you can choose you state.
What do I mean by this? Well I simply mean that the way you feel, the mood you are in, your state of mind, your state is decided by yourself. Not by anyone else. Now this may simply be a review for some of you and perhaps a real paradigm shift for others. If you are in a bad mood it is because you choose to be so. Not the person shouting at you, not the driver that cut you up – you choose the state. With this in mind you can start to work on being consistent.
Be consistent is straight forward when you always start from the same point. Just like map reading, if you always know your starting point you can always start to walk in the right direction.
Once you have that starting point you need to be clear about what consistent means to you. Is it always making the same decisions? Making the same choices? Taking the same position? Maybe, but these seem too inflexible. It may not be the right thing to do to make the same decisions, but it may be the right thing to apply a consistent decision making approach. Always taking the same position may not be wise, but always taking the position that is congruent with my values and beliefs may be.
Once you know what consistent is to you tell others. Don’t let others try to work it out for themselves, it may take them some time or they may never get it. This is your brand so take control – tell others how you are consistent and let them observe it from that point forwards.
You now know where you and your brand are heading (clarity) and how you can be consistent. Next we will look at being a leader.
