by Ola Sage, CGFM, PMP, President & CEO for e-Management

Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) are runaway hit TV programs that showcase ballroom dancing. As football great Emmit Smith, political commentator Tucker Carlson, and figure skating champ Kristi Yamaguchi have learned, ballroom dance on hit TV shows requires a great deal of commitment, dedication, and hard work. Having practiced social ballroom dancing for more than eight years, husband and I know firsthand the work that‘s involved. In fact, we have learned that to be successful, one only needs to P.E.R.F.O.R.M.

Passion, Excellence, Results, Focus, Openness, Recognition, and Mentoring (P.E.R.F.O.R.M) are seven elements to ballroom success. I believe these principles can be taken from the ballroom dance floor to boardrooms, enterprises, and government organizations. Let’s start with…

Passion
Passion shows up in many ways in ballroom dancing, the music, the choreography, practice, ballroom outfits and of course, the dance. Without passion, there is no “life” to the dance. It just becomes a series of steps. How does passion show up in your organization? Is it around the work you do, the products you produce, the customers or constituents you support?

Excellence
In ballroom dancing, we strive for excellence at any level. Even if no one else notices, you know when you miss a step. During ballroom competitions, you don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. This is also true in business. Excellence should be a guiding principle whether or not your employees or the general public ever notices.

Results
If you’ve ever watched Dancing with the Stars or SYTYCD, you know contestants don’t have a lot of time to learn a routine. One of the first things the instructor does is to show the student what the end result is supposed to look like. That gives the student a goal, something to work towards. On performance night, you’ll notice how elated they are with the results that their dedication and practice produced! Results are different for different people and organizations. In order to achieve your mission however, you have to define what success looks like for you and your organization. To do so, you need to establish realistic milestones and goals to help you achieve results. Focusing on results helps to measure your success.

Focus
It’s virtually impossible to focus on anything else when you’re ballroom dancing. There’s the music, the choreography, your partner, etc. Focusing on what’s important can be a daunting task for individuals or organizations. I suggest you develop three to five long term strategic goals. Additionally, think about developing shorter term (e.g., 12 month) set of tactical goals. It is important to remain focused but flexible throughout and be prepared to adapt any proposed plan as your organization matures or as environments change.

Openness
Ballroom dancers must be open to learning, growing, and stretching beyond their comfort levels. In this season’s Dancing with the Stars , rebel star Kelly Osbourne was transformed before our very eyes as she opened herself up to receive new ways of thinking about herself and her capabilities. It was truly endearing and she even made it to the top 3! Similarly, the real test of an organization’s success oftentimes lies in its willingness to be open. No one has the monopoly on good ideas. Be open to adopting new ideas, and taking risks based on sound business intelligence. Even more, open yourself to constructive criticism as well as being willing to fail; but be sure to get up and try again. Some of the best breakthroughs happen when organizations move outside of their comfort zones by being open to innovative possibilities.

Recognition
I cannot stress enough just how important recognition is in ballroom dancing, and to the success of your organization. It‘s a great way to increase morale. Recognition sends the message that each person or employee is valued. Here at e-Management, we do it in a variety of ways, employee recognition dinners, award certificates, time off, etc. Be sure to provide constructive feedback regularly (and remember to be open to receive criticism as well). Finally, remember to reward performance and results. How do you recognize contributions in your organization?

Mentoring
In ballroom dancing, we are encouraged to ask for help. That’s the only way to improve and grow. Look for opportunities to be mentored whether casually through a colleague, or formally using a structured program designed to teach the best practices of your industry. Your being mentored is different from someone telling you what to do, and when do it. In contrast, mentoring should be a dialogue. How are people mentored in your organization?

If you master these seven ballroom principles, you and your organization will be on the “Hot Tamale Train!!!” as SYTYCD judge Mary Murphy selectively bestows to exceptional dance contestants of her show. P.E.R.F.O.R.M. for your audience and they will give you their vote of confidence so that you may ultimately meet your mission.

That’s my two cents for helping your organization to dance its way to meeting its mission goals. Have you tried any of these principles at your organization? Do you have tips you want to share with readers regarding achieving project, program, or organizational goals? By the way, what is your favorite ballroom dance? As always, we look forward to your comments, questions, or suggestions for future topics.