There are three kinds of greatness in life that you won’t find in job titles or corner offices: personal greatness, leadership greatness, and organizational greatness.
1. Personal Greatness: Start with You
You don’t need a promotion to be great. You just need to remember that you were born with three powerful gifts: freedom to choose, a conscience that knows right from wrong, and four powerful human abilities—self-awareness, imagination, conscience, and independent will.
These aren’t buzzwords. They’re practical tools. The power to pause before reacting. To imagine a better version of your life. To feel when something is off. To act in ways that align with your values.
Stephen Covey once said, “You are not a product of your circumstances. You are a product of your decisions.” That’s the heart of personal greatness—choosing to live by principles, not moods or trends.
Think of Nelson Mandela. Twenty-seven years in prison didn’t rob him of his power to choose forgiveness over bitterness. He found his voice in silence. That’s personal greatness.
2. Leadership Greatness: Inspire, Don’t Just Instruct
Leadership greatness isn’t about being in charge. It’s about inspiring others to find their voice—to do work that matters, in ways that reflect who they are.
It starts with modeling. Then pathfinding—helps people see a clear direction. Then aligning—making sure structures, rewards, and systems support the path. And finally, empowering—trusting people to get it done.
Imagine how much more powerful it is when leaders talk less about “what to do” and more about “why it matters.” Take the example of a young team leader I once coached. Instead of micromanaging, she asked her team one powerful question: “What would success look like if we all felt proud of it?” That single question turned an exhausted, disjointed team into a high-performing unit over time.
That’s leadership greatness. It doesn’t scream. It awakens.
3. Organizational Greatness: Make It Real
Organizations don’t become great because they write great mission statements. They become great when they live them—when values like clarity, commitment, synergy, and accountability aren’t just words on posters but the way decisions are made and people are treated.
Stephen Covey called this execution intelligence—the final challenge. Many firms fail here. They have the vision, but not the system to deliver. They talk about alignment but reward the opposite.
I’ve seen firsthand how things change when an organization finally commits to living its values. Not perfectly, but honestly. When clarity replaces confusion. When accountability isn’t a threat but a shared standard.
It’s not magic. It’s discipline.
The Sweet Spot: Where All Three Meet
The 8th Habit is the sweet spot. It’s where your voice meets others’ voices to build something that lasts. It’s where vision, leadership, and systems stop competing and start working together.
Jim Collins said, “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.” Covey would agree. And I do too.
So whether you’re a mid-level manager, a CEO, or an intern—you’re already standing on the starting line. The question is: will you choose personal greatness? Will you lead even if no one gave you the title? Will you help build organizations that don’t just make money, but make meaning?
If not now, when?
HILLARY OONGE CPA is a leadership strategist, Personal Effectiveness coach, and the Chief Operating Officer at SKM Africa . He leads transformation and performance strategy for finance professionals and organizations across Africa.
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Peak Performance | Strategy | Mindset | Execution
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