The Key to Performance Excellence The current business environment is as dire as it has ever been. The economy has created a customer base that is choosy and critical. In order to succeed in this chaotic environment, companies have to compete for business. A high-quality business must be committed to performance excellence. Employees must have clear performance standards, receive the proper training and be innovative. In order to maintain performance excellence, the organizational leadership must be both inspiring and supporting. Mangers must also remain focused on planning, both short and long term. The organizations customers must become a top priority and their satisfaction must be a constantly calculated metric. The last required constant is performance measurement and analysis. Performance excellence is a multifaceted approach that encompasses leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement and analysis. Leadership is such a hard commodity to find in adequate supply. So few individuals are inspirational to their people; they don’t lead by example. “Research has unequivocally demonstrated that when leadership inspires trust and confidence in the future, and managers recognize and respect employees, ensure they are growing and developing, and match them to assignments for which they are well suited, employee engagement is higher” (KINEXA). The majority of people will follow a leader that exemplifies the mission oriented posture and selfless motives of an inspirational guide. The success of an organization is basically dependent on the skillful actions of its leaders. The leader must lead the engagement of the employee. It is the leader that stands out front and charges into quality focus, employee training, and takes a personal interest in decision making. A great leader has to communicate results to his boss, and communicate orders to