Set the Bar High: Leading with a “Consider It Done” Attitude

As a COO at Synova Associates, I’ve always believed that leadership starts with the standards you set for yourself. I’m an Enneagram Type 1, the Reformer, the Perfectionist, the one who sees what could be better and feels responsible for making it happen. That means my natural instinct is to hold myself to a high bar. While this drive can feel relentless at times, I’ve learned that it’s also one of the greatest gifts I can offer the teams I serve: modeling excellence. 

Leaders are watched more than they are heard. The way you show up every day, whether in how you communicate, the way you prepare for a meeting, or how you handle pressure, sets the tone for the entire team. When people see you follow through with integrity and consistency, they know they can count on you. It builds trust. It creates stability. And it sets a powerful example that inspires others to raise their own game. 

I call it leading with a “consider it done” attitude. 

When I commit to something, big or small, I treat it as a promise. I don’t overcommit, but when I say yes, my team knows I will deliver. That reliability creates momentum and confidence. It also frees others to take risks, innovate, and stretch themselves, knowing they’re supported by a leader who follows through. 

Of course, being a One means I also wrestle with self-criticism. I can be harder on myself than anyone else could ever be. But over time, I’ve learned that striving for excellence doesn’t have to mean chasing perfection. The balance is in holding myself accountable while giving others (and myself) grace in the process.  I struggle with this every conference we plan for Synova.  I want everything to be perfect. As November approaches and I begin our extensive Run of Show for which I am ultimately responsible for executing, I need to be reminded that something will always go wrong and not fit with my vision. I need to learn to take that in stride and not be so hard on myself that I miss everything that is going right.   

Setting high expectations isn’t about being rigid or impossible to please, it’s about showing people what’s possible when you operate with discipline, clarity, and purpose. 

When you lead with a “consider it done” mindset, you send a clear message: 

• I respect your time. 
• I keep my word. 
• You can count on me. 

And when people see that in action, they don’t just follow your words, they follow your example.